33 CFR 151.67: Prohibition on discharging plastic from ships
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section prohibits discharging plastic, or garbage mixed with plastic, into the sea or the navigable waters of the United States. Garbage containing plastics that needs disposal must be discharged ashore or incinerated.
Applies toNo person on board any ship.
What it says
No person on board any ship may discharge plastic or garbage mixed with plastic into the sea or into the navigable waters of the United States.
“No person on board any ship may discharge into the sea, or into the navigable waters of the United States, plastic or garbage mixed with plastic”
The prohibition includes, but is not limited to, synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, and plastic garbage bags.
“including, but not limited to, synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, and plastic garbage bags”
All garbage containing plastics that requires disposal must be discharged ashore or incinerated.
“All garbage containing plastics requiring disposal must be discharged ashore or incinerated.”
Common questions
Can I throw plastic overboard from a ship?
No. No person on board any ship may discharge plastic or garbage mixed with plastic into the sea or the navigable waters of the United States.
“No person on board any ship may discharge into the sea, or into the navigable waters of the United States, plastic or garbage mixed with plastic”
What items count as plastic under the discharge prohibition?
The prohibition includes, but is not limited to, synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, and plastic garbage bags.
“including, but not limited to, synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, and plastic garbage bags”
How must garbage containing plastics be disposed of?
Garbage containing plastics that requires disposal must be discharged ashore or incinerated.
“All garbage containing plastics requiring disposal must be discharged ashore or incinerated.”
The text of 33 CFR 151.67
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Operating requirements: Discharge of plastic prohibited
No person on board any ship may discharge into the sea, or into the navigable waters of the United States, plastic or garbage mixed with plastic, including, but not limited to, synthetic ropes, synthetic fishing nets, and plastic garbage bags. All garbage containing plastics requiring disposal must be discharged ashore or incinerated.
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.