California Marine Flare Collection Events Coming Up

One of our favorite happenings of the year is just around the corner. California State Parks and California Coastal Commission’s Environmental Boating Program manager, Vivian Matuk, has alerted us to the upcoming Marine Flare Collection events taking place in California this month and next. The program is open to residents and boaters berthing their boats in Del Norte, Humboldt, Alameda, East Contra Costa, West Contra Costa and Marin counties, the City of Oceanside, and the Port of L.A.

These collection events are free. Here’s the full schedule and list of locations:

Southern California

• City of Oceanside: Saturday, Sept. 9, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at 1850 Harbor Dr. N, Oceanside, CA 92054.
• Port of L.A.: Saturday, Sept. 9, 10 a.m.–2 p.m. at Cabrillo Way Marina, 2293 Miner St., San Pedro, CA 90731.

Northern California

• East Contra Costa County: Aug. 17–Sept. 16, 2023, during business hours at 2550 Pittsburg-Antioch Hwy, Pittsburg, CA 94565.
• West Contra Costa County: Aug. 16–Sept. 16, 2023,​ during business hours at 101 Pittsburg Avenue, Richmond, CA 94801.
• Del Norte County: Saturday, Sept. 16, 2023, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at 1700 State Street, Crescent City, CA 95531.
  • Open to residents of Humboldt County.
• Marin County: Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. at Clipper Yacht Harbor, 310 Harbor Drive, Sausalito, CA 94965.
• Alameda County: Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, by appointment only.
  • Sign up for an appointment: www.stopwaste.org/marineflares.

Only expired marine flares from residents and boaters berthing their boats in the covered areas will be accepted. No marine flares from commercial craft or an organization, or other forms of household hazardous waste (HHW), will be accepted during the special event. Proof of residence or eligibility is required (i.e., license, registration, or slip fee).

We urge you to add your collection date to your calendar now, as Matuk writes, “If these free collection events are not well attended, we may lose these free disposal opportunities.” We certainly don’t want that to happen!

The collection events are supported by Alameda County, Delta Diablo, Del Norte County, West Contra Costa County, Marin County, the City of Oceanside, the Port of L.A., and the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) in partnership with CalRecycle, California State Parks, and the Coastal Commission’s California Boating Clean and Green Program.

For more information about expired marine flares and the benefits of using electronic distress signals, visit dbw.parks.ca.gov/marineflares.