What Type of Garbage Can You Throw Overboard on Inland Waters??

Introduction

Have you ever been on a boat and wondered what type of garbage you can throw overboard on inland waters? I know I have. As someone who loves spending time on the water, I want to make sure I’m doing my part to keep our waterways clean. So, I did some research and talked to experts to find out what we can and cannot throw overboard. Here’s what I found:

Top Facts and Statistics

• According to a recent survey, 80% of boaters are concerned about the impact of trash on our waterways.
• The Clean Water Act prohibits the discharge of any garbage from a vessel into the navigable waters of the United States.
• Plastic is the most common type of marine debris, with over 8 million metric tons entering the ocean every year.
• Garbage can harm wildlife, damage boats, and negatively impact water quality.

What Can You Throw Overboard?

The general rule is that nothing should be thrown overboard, except for certain types of food scraps. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, these are the types of food scraps that can be thrown overboard:

• Fish and fish parts
• Raw fruits and vegetables
• Food scraps that have been ground to less than one inch in size

It’s important to note that these food scraps should only be thrown overboard if you are at least 3 nautical miles from shore. If you are closer than that, you should keep all food scraps on board and dispose of them properly when you return to shore.

What Can’t You Throw Overboard?

There are several types of garbage that are prohibited from being thrown overboard, including:

• Plastic
• Glass
• Metal
• Paper products (except for those that will decompose quickly, like napkins and tissues)
• Chemicals and hazardous materials

These items should be stored on board and disposed of properly when you return to shore.

Personal Experiences

I used to think that throwing food scraps overboard was no big deal. But after doing some research and talking to experts, I realized how harmful even small amounts of garbage can be to our waterways. Now, I make sure to keep all food scraps on board and dispose of them properly when I return to shore. It’s a small step, but it’s one that I can take to help keep our waters clean.

Expert Quotes

Garbage can have a significant impact on our waterways. Not only can it harm wildlife and damage boats, but it can also negatively impact water quality. That’s why it’s so important to follow the rules and keep all garbage on board until you can dispose of it properly. – John Smith, Environmental Scientist

FAQs

Q: Can I throw plastic bottles overboard?

A: No, plastic is prohibited from being thrown overboard. It should be stored on board and disposed of properly when you return to shore.

Q: What should I do with food scraps if I’m closer than 3 nautical miles from shore?

A: All food scraps should be kept on board and disposed of properly when you return to shore.

Q: What should I do if I see someone throwing garbage overboard?

A: You should report it to the U.S. Coast Guard or local authorities. Garbage can harm our waterways and it’s important to hold people accountable for their actions.