Unit Review

Section 1: Hazardous Wastes

In this section, you covered:

Evaluating how waste moves through your marina (waste streams):
Even if you generate only a small amount of waste, the waste must still be evaluated and, if it is hazardous, properly managed. To determine if you have hazardous waste, you must know about ALL the wastes that come from your business. Go through your business and make a list of all your wastes (include even those that you think are not hazardous). Go through the list and carefully evaluate each waste stream.

Determining your hazardous waste generator status:
That includes:

  • Determining the hazardous waste generator status for the business, based on how much hazardous waste is generated in a calendar month.
  • Identifying and complying with the hazardous waste regulations that apply to your specific generator category.

Hazardous waste management:
Meet all mandatory requirements for storage, transport, containment, and disposal of hazardous wastes.

Minimizing your use of hazardous products:
Minimizing can reduce health and safety risks to your staff, tenants, and contractors; lower disposal costs; decrease liability; and limit chances that you will be responsible for a costly cleanup of inappropriately disposed material.

Managing universal waste:
Universal wastes are a subset of commonly generated hazardous wastes and include waste lamps, batteries, mercury-containing devices, and some pesticides. Universal waste requirements are streamlined to encourage recycling.

Managing used oil and filters:
Do not mix used oil with solvents or other materials since the mixture may need to be disposed of as hazardous wastes. Store the oil properly and consider recycling the oil as well as the filters.

Proper disposal of used oil spill materials:
Disposing used oil-absorbent material depends on the type of product and how it was used. When appropriate, recycle. When not possible, be sure to dispose of the used products in a lawful way.

Managing hazardous waste from boat owners:
Hazardous waste generated by private boat owners — such as batteries and used antifreeze, solvents or oil — is considered household hazardous waste and is not subject to hazardous waste requirements as long as it is managed with their non-hazardous solid waste. If you collect it at your marina, be sure to follow household hazardous waste guidelines.

Tracking pollution incidents:
Track pollution incidents and use a Pollution Report and Action Log to track pollution incidents and actions taken. Check the log daily and make sure each incident was handled correctly.

 

Section 2: Waste Reduction, Disposal, and Recycling

In this section, you covered:

Reducing waste:
Keep in mind that less waste means lower disposal costs. This BMP offers several suggestions on how to reduce waste, like avoiding leftover materials by sizing up a job, evaluating need, and buying just enough products for the job or minimizing office waste by making double-sided copies, using scrap paper for notes and messages, and reusing polystyrene peanuts.

Managing waste and recyclables:
Start by developing a waste management strategy based on the needs of patrons, number of patrons, the types of waste generated, the layout of your marina, and the amount of staff time you can devote. Ask boaters specifically what their needs are.

Recycling solid waste:
Contact a waste hauler or your local solid waste coordinator to enroll in available recycling programs. Provide containers to collect, at a minimum, plastic, glass, aluminum, and paper — make the recycling bins look different from the standard trashcans. Recycle shrink-wrap and monofilament.

Collect and recycle liquid wastes:
Promote recycling of liquid waste (e.g., used oil, antifreeze, solvents). Provide separate containers to collect used oil and antifreeze. Also, collect solvents from your boatyard according to hazardous waste regulations.

Following recommended disposal methods:
Ensure staff and boaters are aware of recommended waste disposal methods for wastes typically found at marinas.

 

Section 3: Working with Boaters on Waste Management

In this section, you covered:

Managing fish waste:
If your marina services sport anglers:

  • Provide a fish cleaning station or post signs and contractually bind your customers to the proper disposal of fish waste.
  • Prohibit fish cleaning outside of designated areas.
  • Check with your local waste coordinator to determine availability of fish waste composting programs.

Managing pet waste:
Because many people bring their pets along on boating trips, there should be proper facilities to manage pet waste. For example, provide dog walks or contractually bind customers to the proper disposal of pet waste.

Managing wildlife waste:
Discourage the feeding of waterbirds and waterfowl in your marina. The birds’ waste can contaminate water and create a mess on boats and walkways. If wild birds do become established at your marina, there are several abatement measures that can be used to control their populations.

Educating boaters about marina waste management
Ensure boaters are aware of prohibition on dumping debris into waterways. Within all waters of the states and Great Lakes: it is illegal to dump plastic, paper, rags, glass, metal, crockery, dunnage (lining and packing material, nets, lines, etc.), and food, i.e., any type of garbage. Include language about prohibition of dumping in your slip agreements and service provider contracts.