Flare Collection Events and a Coast Guard Auxiliary One-Day Boat America Class

Free Expired Marine Flare collection events are being offered at several locations in November. Alameda, Del Norte, West Contra Costa, Marin, and Santa Cruz counties, the cities of Santa Barbara and Oceanside, the ports of L.A. and San Diego, and the California Product Stewardship Council have partnered with CalRecycle, California State Parks and the Coastal Commission’s California Boating Clean and Green Program to collect expired marine flares and educate residents about marine flare management safety, including the advantages of reusable distress signals, to protect California communities and the local environment.

Collection dates and locations are as follows:

Northern California

West Contra Costa County Cities include: El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole, San Pablo, Richmond, El Sobrante, Kensington, Crockett, Port Costa and Rodeo, and unincorporated West Contra Costa County.
Dates/Times: Wednesday, Oct. 29–Saturday, Nov. 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Address: 101 Pittsburg Ave., Richmond, CA 94801

Del Norte County
Date/Time: Saturday, November 8, 2025, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Address: 1700 State St., Crescent City, CA 95531

Marin County
Date/Time: Sunday, November 9, 2025, 8 a.m. to noon. Address: Clipper Yacht Harbor, 310 Harbor Dr., Sausalito, CA 94965

Alameda County
Date/Time: Sunday, November 9, 2025. By Appointment ONLY. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sign up for an Oakland appointment at: www.stopwaste.org/marineflares

Santa Cruz County
Date/Time: Sunday, November 9, 2025, 8 a.m. to noon. Address: 425 Brommer St., Santa Cruz, CA 95062.

Check and share the NorCal Regional Flier

Southern California

San Diego County
Date/Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 8 a.m. to noon. Address: 2210 Shelter Island Dr., San Diego, CA 92106

Los Angeles County
Date/Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Address: Cabrillo Way Marina, 2293 Miner St., San Pedro, CA 90731

City of Oceanside
Date/Time: Saturday, November 15, 2025, 8 a.m. to noon. Address:1850 North Harbor Dr., Oceanside, CA 92054

Santa Barbara County
Date/Time: Sunday, November 16, 2025, 8 a.m. to noon. Address: City of Santa Barbara Waterfront,
132-A Harbor Way, Santa Barbara, CA 93109

Check and share the SoCal Regional Flier.

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 receipt).

The United States Coast Guard (USGC) requires boaters to carry several unexpired visual distress signals on board, day and night. Pyrotechnic marine flares are a common type of distress signal, but they are explosive and contain toxic chemicals, and must be managed as hazardous waste when expired or no longer needed. To assure safety and protect the environment, it is essential to manage single-use pyrotechnic marine flares carefully. Boaters should never throw expired or unneeded flares overboard or into the trash.

Single-use pyrotechnic marine flares expire and must be replaced every 36 to 42 months after their manufacture date, and recreational vessels generate about 174,000 expired pyrotechnic marine flares every year, according to the California Expired Marine Flare Working Group estimate in 2011. However, California boaters do not currently have access to an ongoing statewide disposal program for expired marine flares. To avoid the difficulties of safe disposal for pyrotechnic marine flares, the partners encourage boaters to consider an electronic visual distress signal device (eVDSD) as a reusable, safe, and cost-effective alternative to buying the single-use pyrotechnic marine flares.

For more information about expired marine flares, visit dbw.parks.ca.gov/marineflares, and to learn more, check DBW’s podcast about this topic

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Coast Guard Auxiliary One-Day Boat America Class

California law now requires boaters of all ages operating a motorized vessel (boat) to carry a California Boater Card. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is accepting signups for the one-day Boat America Class offered on October 25 at the San Rafael Yacht Club, 200 Yacht Club Dr., San Rafael 94901. Successful completion of the course and passing the test qualify the participant for the California Boater Card.

All instruction is by members of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Details:

• The fee for the class is $25 payable by cash or check made out to US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 14. San Rafael Yacht Club (SRYC) members will be charged by the SRYC.
• Lunch will be available for a cost from the SRYC, or you can bring a bag lunch.
• Coffee is provided. Please arrive between 8:15 and 8:45 to give yourself time to pay the class fee and pick up the class materials at the San Rafael Yacht Club, and to order lunch if you choose.
• Instruction begins promptly at 9:00 a.m.
• The class and test should be finished between 5:00–5:45 p.m.

USCG Auxiliary Boat America class expected schedule:
0900–0905 Welcome
0905–0910 Introduction and Logistics
0910–0940 Chapter 1: Know your boat
0940–1025 Chapter 2: Before you get Underway
1025–1110 Chapter 3: Operating Your Boat Safely
1110–1200 Chapter 4: Legal Requirements
1200–1300 LUNCH (Probably Working)
1300-1345 Chapter 5: Boating Emergencies
1345–1430 Chapter 6: Enjoying Water Sports
1430–1515 California-Specific Supplement
1515–1600 Q&A/Pre-Test Review
1600–1615 Break
1615–1745 Final Exam. Most participants should finish in about 30 minutes but they have up to 90 minutes.

For questions and to register for the class, please contact US Coast Guard Auxiliary Public Educational Officer Andy Graham at [email protected] or (415) 490-7349. You can also learn more here.