Dispose Of Boat Flares Properly With New Ocean County Program

WARETOWN, NJ — Boaters looking to get rid of old boat flares as boating season fast approaches can do so through a free Ocean County program.

“Ocean County has a very large boating community and we want to offer boaters a free program that allows them to dispose of old boat flares properly,” said Ocean County Commissioner Barbara Jo Crea, liaison to the Ocean County Department of Solid Waste Management. “This new program is a cooperative effort of several Ocean County departments working together to provide a safe and convenient means of getting rid of flflares.”

The program will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., May 6 at the Ocean County Training Center, 200 Volunteer Way, Waretown. It will be the first residential program to dispose of flares in New Jersey.

Only Ocean County residents are allowed to participate; flares from marinas and businesses will not be accepted.

There will be 600 appointments available and residents can drop off a maximum of 10 flares. Program participants are asked to remain in their vehicles at all times.

Registration is required and can be done online at the Solid Waste Management homepage: www.co.ocean.nj.us/recycle or by calling (732) 506-5047.

Materials that will be accepted on May 6 are Red Hand-held, Parachute, Red Meteor, Orange Smoke Signals, and Floating Orange Smoke flares.

The program will not accept road flares, electronic flares, plastic flare launchers, and other explosives.

In the past, residents were told to bring flares to the Coast Guard or the fire department, but these agencies no longer accept them.

Once collected, Ocean County will destroy the old or used flares in a container used for controlled burn at the Ocean County Training Center. This will be done under the supervision of trained personnel.