🔍 Key Concepts

• MARPOL Annex V categories of garbage (especially how plastics are treated) • Differences between items that are never allowed to be discharged and those allowed under restricted conditions (distance from land, ground to small pieces, etc.) • The environmental impact and persistence of different materials in the marine environment

💭 Think About

• Which of these materials breaks down the least in the marine environment and is known to be especially harmful to marine life when floating or drifting? • Under Annex V, are there any materials that are absolutely prohibited from discharge anywhere at sea, regardless of distance from land or ship size? Which ones? • Do metal and glass have specific discharge conditions (e.g., ground to certain size, distance offshore), or are they treated the same as the most harmful category?

✅ Before You Answer

• Check the specific MARPOL Annex V rule that lists garbage categories and their discharge conditions or prohibitions. • Verify whether plastics are in a special category that is completely prohibited from being discharged at sea. • Confirm if metal and glass have conditional discharge allowances (e.g., beyond certain miles from land), which would distinguish them from the item that is never allowed.