Where Do Cruise Ships Dump Food Waste?

Carnival, a cruise company operating brands like Holland America, Carnival Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises, generates an average of 1.3 pounds of food waste per person daily, with the amount varying depending on the line. Cruise ships have an estimated food waste of around 30%, often referred to as fish food. The food served on cruise ships is not typically part of this waste, but rather food scraps, human waste, and other untreated materials.

Cruise ships have sophisticated food waste management systems in place to handle the disposal of both solid and liquid food waste. These systems are designed to handle organic waste on board, which may undergo processes such as grinding, maceration, or pulverization. Food waste produced on board is sent to a pulper and pulverized to less than 25 mm, as per international standards, and discharged no closer than 12 nautical miles from land.

Food waste is then processed via biodigesters or dehydrators, or offloaded on shore. Once the waste arrives on land, it is transported to a facility for processing, which could be a landfill or an anaerobic digestion facility. The resulting mixture is mostly decomposed when released at sea, as allowed by international law.

Strict regulations like Marpol Annex IV and V prohibit the dumping of food waste overboard to avoid fines and environmental damage. The food waste is compressed into blocks and released into the ocean, where it quickly breaks down and becomes nutrients for the marine life. The garbage is usually stored on the ship until it reaches a port, where it is properly disposed of on land.