Module 17 - Marine Environment
Garbage Disposal
What you will learn
Use the MARPOL Annex V hierarchy to distinguish prohibited garbage from narrow food-waste exceptions, then adopt the simpler all-waste-ashore routine.
MARPOL Annex V starts from prohibition. A limited food-waste exception depends on processing, distance, being en route and whether the vessel is inside a special area; it is not a general licence to throw biodegradable material overboard.
The IMO summary of revised MARPOL Annex V says all garbage discharge is prohibited unless the annex expressly permits it. Plastics, synthetic rope, fishing gear, cooking oil, paper, rags, glass, metal, bottles and similar refuse are prohibited both outside and within special areas. Mixing garbage with another harmful substance applies the more stringent requirement.
Outside special areas and Arctic waters, comminuted or ground food waste that passes through a screen no larger than 25 millimetres may be discharged only when the vessel is en route, as far as practicable from land and more than 3 nautical miles from nearest land. Food waste that is not ground needs more than 12 nautical miles. In special areas and Arctic waters, qualifying ground food waste needs more than 12 nautical miles and the unground-food exception is not available. Additional requirements can apply.
A small yacht rarely gains enough operational value from those exceptions to justify sorting distance, area and processing at the moment of disposal. The reliable routine is to secure all rubbish aboard, separate recyclables and food where useful, prevent loose items escaping in wind and use the next suitable shore reception facility.
| Garbage | Outside special areas | Practical small-yacht action |
|---|---|---|
| Plastics and similar refuse | Discharge prohibited | Secure aboard and dispose ashore |
| Ground food passing a 25mm screen | >3nm, en route and as far as practicable | Bring ashore unless the exact exception is understood and needed |
| Unground food waste | >12nm, en route and as far as practicable | Bring ashore |
| Any mixed or contaminated waste | Apply the more stringent requirement | Keep contained and obtain the right shore disposal route |
Make the rubbish plan work in a wet cockpit
The crew are preparing lunch while the yacht is still inside a MARPOL special area and loose packaging could blow overboard.
1. Contain
Use a lidded or secured container before opening wrappers or cutting line.
2. Separate
Keep recyclables, ordinary refuse and any material needing special disposal identifiable.
3. Land
Retain the waste and use the marina's labelled reception facilities rather than debating an exception underway.
Sense check: Nothing should be able to leave the yacht accidentally when a hatch opens, the boat heels or the wind increases.
Common mistake or limitation
- Biodegradable is not a MARPOL disposal category; only the exact food-waste conditions create the limited exception described.
- Three miles is not the rule for every food item: processing, area, en-route status and local requirements all matter.
Recap
- MARPOL Annex V prohibits all garbage discharge except specific, conditional cases.
- Ground food outside special areas uses the >3nm condition; unground food normally uses >12nm, and special areas are tighter.
- Retaining all yacht waste for shore disposal removes most classification and distance errors.
Optional quick check
Section 4 of 7
Which item may use the >3nm Annex V exception outside special areas when all other conditions are met?
Continue studying Marine Environment
This public lesson is part of Revision Module 17. Full revision access adds the guided Learn, Practise and Test flow, flashcards and revision progress.