Marine and Aviation

Flare Disposal Program

Many boaters have outdated flares that need to be replaced on their boats. That's why the City of Clearwater's Marine and Aviation Department encourages Clearwater boaters to participate in the Marina's Flare Disposal Program. Flares are hand-held torches or lights that are activated during maritime emergencies. These visual distress signals are used as locater devices.

Marina personnel collect expired flares from boaters using city marinas and docking facilities, and turn them over to the Pinellas County Solid Waste for safe disposal. The Clearwater Marina also collects used engine oil, oil filters, batteries, and other items to dispose of them properly, and marina staff are available to provide direction on how to safely dispose of boating materials such as gasoline or diesel fuel, paint, antifreeze, or tires.

Flares should be replaced by the expiration date posted on the flare. The Flare Disposal Program is part
of Clearwater's Clean Marina designation. For a list of visual distress signals approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, visit www.uscg.mil/hq/cg5/cg5214/vds.asp#160.121 . To learn more, call the Marine & Aviation Department at (727) 462-6954.