Vessel and Aircraft garbage Law & Legal Definition

Vessel and aircraft garbage refers to any waste material, such as food scraps, table refuse, galley refuse, refuse from stores of vessels and aircraft. It also includes waste material in passengers' and crews' quarters, which is derived, in whole or in part, from fruits, vegetables, or animal products.

Under the Food and Agriculture Code, vessel and aircraft garbage constitutes as an unlawful act for any person to throw, discharge, deposit, remove, or carry garbage, or cause, suffer, or procure garbage to be thrown, discharged, deposited, removed, or carried, from any vessel, aircraft, or any other vehicle into any territorial waters, or onto land within the state.

The following is an example of the state statute (California) stating the exceptions in which vessel and aircraft garbage will not be treated as unlawful:

Cal Food & Agr Code § 16151 lays down the exceptions which includes:

1. Immediate burning in incinerators.

2. Approved treatment or approved disposal under the supervision and pursuant to the regulations of the director.

3. Delivery to a garbage collector that, for the purpose of accepting garbage, is licensed by the director or by the federal government.