Do Cruise Ships Dump Plastic At Sea?

Cruise ships are allowed to dispose of waste in the ocean, but they must follow specific regulatory requirements. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), many cruise ships dump plastic at sea, which is illegal according to U.S. and international maritime law. However, many companies have proven they don’t care about this issue. Cruise ships produce a lot of trash, but there are no garbage trucks to come and pick up waste when they’re out at sea. The garbage is usually stored on the ship until it reaches a port, where it is disposed of properly on land.

U.S. law allows cruise ships to dump raw sewage in the ocean once a ship is more than three miles off U.S. shores. Ships can dump treated sewage anywhere in the ocean. Cruise lines go to great lengths to separate food scraps from other waste like straws or plastic wrappers. The food waste is compressed into a container.

Dumping garbage in the ocean is against international law. Raw, untreated sewage can be dumped in the ocean once a ship is more than three miles off U.S. shores. Inside the three-mile limit, cruise ships can eject sewage into the ocean. Cruise lines continually strive to improve waste management practices through innovation and technology.