33 CFR 151.71: Garbage discharge within special areas
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section bars any person from discharging garbage into the water when a ship is within a special area referenced in § 151.53 of this part, except as the section allows. It allows discharge of food wastes, certain cargo residues and certain wash water only when the stated conditions are met. Mixtures of garbage with different discharge requirements must be retained on board or discharged under the more stringent requirement.
Applies toIt applies to a ship located within a special area referenced in § 151.53 of this part.
What it says
When a ship is within a special area referenced in § 151.53 of this part, no person may discharge garbage into the water, except as this section allows.
33 CFR 151.71(a)“no person may discharge garbage into the water, except as allowed in this section.”
Food wastes must be discharged only while the ship is en route and only if the conditions in paragraphs (b)(1) through (b)(3) are met.
33 CFR 151.71(b)“Food wastes shall only be discharged while the ship is en route and—”
Food wastes must be discharged as far as practicable from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf, and not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf.
33 CFR 151.71(b)(1)“As far as practicable from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf, but not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf;”
Food wastes must be discharged only after they have been processed with a grinder or comminuter specified in § 151.75.
33 CFR 151.71(b)(2)“After having been processed with a grinder or comminuter specified in § 151.75; and”
Discharging introduced avian products, including poultry and poultry parts, is not permitted in the Antarctic area unless they have been treated to be made sterile.
33 CFR 151.71(b)(4)“The discharge of introduced avian products, including poultry and poultry parts, is not permitted in the Antarctic area unless it has been treated to be made sterile.”
Cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading may be discharged only where all the conditions in paragraph (c) are satisfied.
33 CFR 151.71(c)“Cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading may be discharged where all the following conditions are satisfied:”
Cleaning agents or additives in deck and external surfaces wash water may be discharged only if they are not harmful to the marine environment.
33 CFR 151.71(d)“Cleaning agents or additives contained in deck and external surfaces wash water may be discharged only if those substances are not harmful to the marine environment.”
Mixtures of garbage with different discharge requirements must be kept on board for later disposal ashore, or discharged under the more stringent requirement in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
33 CFR 151.71(e)(2)“Discharged in accordance with the more stringent requirement prescribed by paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.”
Common questions
Can I discharge garbage in a special area?
No person may discharge garbage into the water within a special area, except as this section allows.
“no person may discharge garbage into the water, except as allowed in this section.”
How far from land must food waste be discharged in a special area?
Food wastes must be discharged as far as practicable from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf, and not less than 12 nautical miles from it. The ship must also be en route, and the waste must be ground or comminuted as § 151.75 specifies and not contaminated by other garbage.
“As far as practicable from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf, but not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf;”
What do I do with mixed garbage that has different discharge rules?
The mixture must be retained on board for later disposal ashore, or discharged under the more stringent requirement in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
“Discharged in accordance with the more stringent requirement prescribed by paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.”
Can I discharge poultry parts in the Antarctic area?
Discharging introduced avian products, including poultry and poultry parts, is not permitted in the Antarctic area unless they have been treated to be made sterile.
“The discharge of introduced avian products, including poultry and poultry parts, is not permitted in the Antarctic area unless it has been treated to be made sterile.”
The text of 33 CFR 151.71
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
Operating requirements: Discharge of garbage within special areas
(a) When a ship is located within a special area referenced in § 151.53 of this part, no person may discharge garbage into the water, except as allowed in this section.
(b) Food wastes shall only be discharged while the ship is en route and—
(1) As far as practicable from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf, but not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or nearest ice shelf;
(2) After having been processed with a grinder or comminuter specified in § 151.75; and
(3) Not contaminated by any other garbage type.
(4) The discharge of introduced avian products, including poultry and poultry parts, is not permitted in the Antarctic area unless it has been treated to be made sterile.
(c) Cargo residues that cannot be recovered using commonly available methods for unloading may be discharged where all the following conditions are satisfied:
(1) The cargo residues, cleaning agents or additives contained in the cargo hold washing water do not contain any substances that are harmful to the marine environment.
(2) Both the port of departure and the next port of destination must be within the special area and the ship will not transit outside of the special area when moving between those ports.
(3) No adequate reception facilities are available at those ports.
(4) When the conditions of paragraphs (c)(1) through (c)(3) of this section have been fulfilled, discharge of cargo hold washing water containing residues shall be made as far as practicable from the nearest land or the nearest ice shelf and not less than 12 nautical miles from the nearest land or the nearest ice shelf.
(d) Cleaning agents or additives contained in deck and external surfaces wash water may be discharged only if those substances are not harmful to the marine environment.
(e) Mixtures of garbage having different discharge requirements must be:
(1) Retained on board for later disposal ashore; or
(2) Discharged in accordance with the more stringent requirement prescribed by paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
Sections it refers to
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.