Police departments and road crews face many challenges, so the last thing many worry about is how to dispose of road flares. These fusee flares are used to warn drivers and pedestrians of potential danger but must be disposed of properly in order to avoid accidents and injuries. Learn the best ways to dispose of road flares, as well as some alternative methods that can be used to help alleviate stress on your team and stay safer.

How to Dispose of Road Flares Safely

When you are disposing of road flares, it is important to take the proper safety precautions.

To begin with, never smoke or allow anything that could potentially spark near the area where you will be disposing of the road flares. Additionally, ensure that the area around your disposal site is clear and free of any flammable materials. These flares contain hazardous waste, whether it be a strike flare or a flare gun, so they should be used with caution.

One of the most common methods for disposing of road flares is to bury them in dirt or sand. This will effectively prevent any fires from starting and help contain any dangerous chemicals that may have been released. If you have a large number of road flares that need to be disposed of, it may be helpful to use a fire pit or other designated disposal site to make the process more efficient.

If burying road flares does not seem like a good option for your team, there are other alternatives that may be worth considering. See if your local police department or fire department has started using specialized flare recycling programs in order to reduce waste and prevent harmful chemicals from ending up in landfills. Your local coast guard station may also accept road flares for disposal, since their marine flares work similarly to those used by road safety crews.

road flare tubes

A flare disposal program typically involves collecting used and expired flares, sending them to a recycling facility, and then reusing the materials in new products. This way, unused road flares don’t go to waste without causing damage to the environment or to your vehicles with the fire risk.

No matter which disposal method you choose, it is essential that you take the necessary safety precautions to prevent accidents and injuries. Keep these tips in mind the next time your team needs to dispose of road flares, and enjoy peace of mind knowing that you are doing your part to stay safe on the road.

No matter what, you should never soak your flares in water overnight or toss them in a plastic bag. The shells are waterproof, so the highly toxic chemicals inside will still be active (and flammable).

Why Dispose of Fusee Flares?

Fusee flares, also commonly referred to as road flares or safety flares, are used by police officers and road crews to alert drivers and pedestrians of potential danger on the road. While these flares serve an important purpose, it is also important to dispose of these flammable items properly in order to avoid fires, injuries, and other accidents.

person holding up an emergency road flare

One of the main reasons to dispose of road flares is to prevent fires from starting. The chemicals used in these flares can easily ignite if they are not stored or disposed of properly, which could lead to serious damage and even loss of life. Additionally, disposing of road flares responsibly can help keep dangerous chemicals out of landfills and local water supplies, and minimize the environmental impact of these products.

Alternatives to Traditional Flares

LED Sequential Road Flares

LED sequential road flares are a safe alternative to fusee flares. LED flares produce light bright enough for passengers to see without blinding them while guiding them naturally along a scene, helping them move over and slow down faster in the event of a road hazard or accident.

They also have a long battery life, which means that you can use them for extended periods of time without having to change the batteries or dispose of flares when they run out. These do not have an expiration date and do not pose a health hazard as fusee flares do.

emergency road flare placed by firefighter at night

Try Safer Alternatives With Pi-Lit

When you make the switch to sequential LED flares with pi-lit, never worry about your unused flares expiring or having to dispose of your old flares on the side of the road after a scene again. Since our LED flares are reusable with rechargeable batteries, there’s no need to dispose of them, and can help save your department money over time. Contact us today to see how your department can utilize sequential LED flares.

 

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