Disposal/Use of Old Flares

[hellosailor]

"Don't keep them as backups. It's actually against regs to have expired flares on the boat."
We keep hearing that nonsense and it IS nonsense. Please find and cite ONE law in any US state or federal code that says it is illegal to keep expired flares on board. You won't find it. The laws apply to the required minimum flares--not to other equipment, they do not say "ALL FLARES ON BOARD ANY BOAT" and there's no way to construe that meaning to the state or federal codes I've read.

I'm surprised a fire department wouldn't take them. Most take them and then simply throw them in the trash, if they are worried about hazmat in the trash these days...Many USCG stations have a metal bin for "expired pyrotechnics" that is marked as such.
But personally I keep them under the new flares--in an airtight metal ammunition can, which is repainted dayglo orange and prominently marked "FLARES" with an inventory card on it.
I've fired off expired flares up to ten years old (stored on a shelf) and they all worked. If you've never fired one, they are very UNimpressive, you'll want SOLAS flares if you want to be seen. If some of the expired flares don't work? So what? Those that do are still better than nothing. Fourth of July, away from the beach or waterways. They're actually quite small and low compared to modern fireworks.

[SecondWindNC]

I stand corrected. It was what I'd been told but I can't find anything official that indicates it's illegal to have expired flares on board, as long as you have the required number of good ones.