Some good news: Ban on ocean dumping

[guardian]

http://www.sfexaminer.com/economy/caribbean-islands-approve-toughened-ban-on-ships-dumping-their-garbage-on-open-sea-90875569.html


SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Countries in the Caribbean have agreed to bar the dumping of all garbage at sea, ending rules that allow the disposal of metal, glass and other refuse a short distance from shore and almost any trash farther out.

"It's a big deal," said Ramos, a U.S. Coast Guard commander based on the Dutch island of Curacao near Venezuela. "Especially in the Caribbean, with all the tankers and the traffic going to the Panama Canal, it will make a big impact."

The new ban will outlaw discharging of any solid waste at any distance except for food, which could still be dumped 3 miles from shore. It will be up to individual countries to check ships' logs and verify compliance.