Waste & sewage
Watch your waste
Did you know?
- It is estimated that globally over a million birds and 100,000 marine mammals and turtles die every year from entanglement, or ingestion of plastics.
- A survey of 42 harbour authorities reported that £26,100 is spent per year in some ports to clear fouled propellers and remove debris from the water.
- Rubbish can take a surprisingly long time to degrade. A tin can will survive 50 years under water, an aluminium can 80-100 years and glass bottles up to 1000 years.
- Disposal of hazardous waste costs 36 times as much as general waste.
- A survey of 452 river and canal sites by the Environment Agency showed that litter was the most common cause of poor quality and about 60% of the litter was plastic.
Advice
- Do not throw anything over the side – if by accident you do – practice those man-overboard drills to retrieve it.
- Cigarette ends can harm birds and last up to 5 years. Smokers should keep a small tin in their pocket to stub out and keep butt ends.
- Invest in starch-based rubbish bags for short trips. They break down in 12-18 months rather than 20 years plus for regular plastic bags.
- Prevent plastic bags, drinks cans and loose items from blowing overboard. Remove excess packaging and recycle it at home.
- Use recycling facilities at marinas, clubs and harbour authorities – it’s the same quantity of waste just a little more effort.
- Where possible, reduce waste, a simple one is to refill water bottles.
- Make sure you don’t cause general waste to be classed as ‘Hazardous’ by throwing items in the wrong container, including paint tins, oily rags and old electronic instruments.
Useful information
To find out where waste is disposed of near you www.environment-agency.gov.uk. or visit www.recyclenow.com to search for the closest recycling facilities by postcode.
Facts and figures from beach clean ups and surveys can be found at www.adoptabeach.org.uk
Download a list of hazardous waste at www.thegreenblue.org.uk. Clubs and marinas should download the RYA/BMF’s Guide to Port Waste.
Discharging sewage
Did you know?
- Untreated sewage discharged from boats can spread gastroenteritis, contaminate shell fish beds and deplete vital oxygen in the water that fish and other aquatic life depend on.
- Human waste contains phosphorous and nitrogen which are nutrients for plant growth, increasing levels of algae and reducing water.
- Chemicals such as chlorine, formaldehyde, ammonium and zinc compounds used to disinfect, breakdown and deodorise waste are toxic to marine life.
Advice
- In the open sea, well away from land, waste will be quickly diluted and dispersed by wave actions and currents. Only empty holding tanks more than 3 miles offshore
- In areas of poor flushing such as estuaries, inlets and marinas, make use of shore side facilities, holding tanks and pump out facilities or a portable toilet
- Chemical toilets use toxic substances and should only be emptied ashore into the regular sewage system. Plan ahead as they can be difficult to carry and few pump out facilities will accept chemical toilet waste.
- In marinas, use shore side facilities and brief your crew to do likewise.
- When visiting new sites, give consideration to the environmental sensitivity of the area before using your sea toilet.
- Boats manufactured outside the UK may not have the correct ISO fittings for UK pump out stations.
Useful information
The prevention of pollution by sewage from ships is regulated by Annex IV of MARPOL see www.imo.org/home.asp
The Green Blue has published a directory of pump-out facilities in the UK
The RYA Marina guide and most good pilot guides and almanacs have details on the location of sewage pump out facilities www.rya.org.uk/marinas/
A map showing locations of Special Areas of Conservation can be found at www.ukmarinesacs.org.uk
