Do cruise ship waste go

Answer 1

Waste from a cruise ship is separated into recyclable catagories (paper, plastic, glass, china, food, etc) and stored for removal to land. Non-recyclable solids (biological and chemical waste) are quarantined and stored for removal to land. Liquid waste is separated and treated differently. Grey water (showers and sinks) is treated and stored for emergency water provision, the rest is dumped. Black water (toilet and biological water) is treated and stored for land removal. Sludge (chemicals, oil and machine waste) is also saved for land removal. Maritime law allows some dumping of garbage while at a certain distance from land, but most cruise lines have recently adopted voluntary policies that are stricter than maritime law. Most cruise lines will only dump food and grey water at least 12 miles from land. This is in sharp contrast to the mid-90's when the cruise lines were dumping garbage without restriction.