What Happens to All the Garbage on a Cruise Ship?
Today, while we are still making our way across the Atlantic from Spain to Texas, I’m tackling another question that never really crosses my mind while I’m enjoying a cruise.
What happens to all the garbage?
There are thousands of passengers and crew members are onboard this ship alone. There are restaurants and buffets serving meals all day, bars serving drinks, cabins being cleaned, and passengers unpacking, shopping and going about their daily routines.
That adds up to a lot of garbage every single day!
So, does it all end up in a giant garbage bin somewhere on the ship? Not quite. First, everything has to be sorted.
The crew collects garbage from cabins, restaurants, kitchens and public areas. It is then separated into different categories, including food waste, cardboard, paper, glass, metals, plastics and other general waste.
Different types of waste need different methods of handling, so sorting is an important part of the process.
What happens to all that food waste?
With so many meals being prepared and served every day, food scraps are a significant part of the ship's waste. Cruise ships may use equipment such as food waste processors or biodigesters to reduce the volume of waste. Some food waste may also be landed ashore for appropriate disposal.
The aim is to reduce the amount of waste produced in the first place and manage what remains responsibly.
And what about the bottles, cans and cardboard?
Whenever possible, materials such as glass, aluminium and cardboard are separated for recycling. Some items may be crushed or compacted to take up less room.
Space is at a premium on a ship, so reducing the volume of garbage makes a big difference. You can't simply wheel a large garbage bin out to the curb every Tuesday!
Some cruise ships have approved incinerators that are used to burn certain types of waste. This reduces the amount that needs to be stored and taken ashore. However, not everything can be burned, and strict rules govern what can go into an incinerator.
Hazardous waste, batteries and other materials that require special handling must be kept separate and disposed of appropriately.
Thankfully, international regulations prohibit ships from dumping most garbage into the sea. Plastics must never be discharged overboard, and other waste is subject to strict rules.
Garbage that cannot be recycled or processed onboard is generally stored until the ship reaches port, where it can be handed over to approved waste reception facilities.
The ship also keeps records of waste disposal and incineration, so its waste management can be monitored.
Of course, managing garbage isn't just about finding somewhere to put it. Cruise lines also try to reduce waste through purchasing decisions, recycling programs and other measures.
When you stop to think about it, a cruise ship really is a small floating city. Everything we use, eat and throw away has to be dealt with somewhere onboard, often without passengers ever seeing the work involved.
The next time I leave a plate at the buffet or put something in a garbage bin, I'll probably give a little more thought to the crew members who make sure it all gets taken care of.
Barbara, I absolutely love your behind-the-scenes cruise ship investigations! š These are things passengers rarely think about, yet they're fascinating. It's reassuring to know that waste is carefully separated and recyclable materials are collected. I wonder whether any of the waste that's incinerated onboard is also used to generate energy, perhaps through steam turbines? After all, a cruise ship really is a floating city, so why not make use of the heat? Thanks for another interesting insight into what goes on behind the scenes!
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