Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

[mnewb1]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

trash is trash = bad idea!

 

[blifsey]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

I would think the problem is if everyone shared in this practice the volume going into lake would surpass nature's ability to break the volume down and the trash would accumulate. Nothing wrong with not wanting to add paper products to landfill but take it home to a compost bin, worm bed (for fishing ) or recycle bin.

 

[MRS]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

Hey if you are on septic tank at home you could throw your toilet paper on the lawn and when you water the lawn it will disolve and fertilize the lawn at the same time. And save your tank from filling up.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

It can be bad for those green paper things in you wallet. In PA minimum $82.50 plus optional $10 for each separate item discarded into the water at the discretion of the court.

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

For the first time since joining this forum, I have no response. I'm surprised ANYONE on this forum would even ask the question.

 

[MaddysDaddy]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

when i "throw a paper towel in the water" i usely waste 5 mins. trying to fish it out with the net. so no i dont think its good to throw stuff other then bait in OUR WATER. On a side note if you use a "real" towel you can wash it out in OUR WATER, its around the boat. If you really wanna get crazy you can get soap that is safe OUR WATER.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

Check out the news shows and youtubes about the floating garbage patches in the Atlantic and Pacific. If you drag it out there, drag it back and throw it away when it's time...don't leave it in the water to soften and get caught on my outboard's water intake.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

The other day I was eating a deer steak, and there was a piece of bone in the steak about a square inch in size. I just threw that overboard. I know that will not hurt anything. It will just sit on the bottom while catfish eat on it.

I see your point about the paper looking bad, and getting into intakes, but i don't think it chemically hurts the water.
I mean I quess it would be better to burn the paper, but then maybe it increases global warming? Is paper in a landfill that much better than paper in the ocean or a bay?

I know a few people who throw glass beer bottles overboard a lot, I never do that.

 

[Chaparralboater]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

My x girl friend threw her babies diaper over board after changing it. She shortly after was pushed into the water by me to fish it out.

 

[bowman316]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

hell, plenty of boats discharge toliet paper. assuming they are 3 miles offshore, or not in us waters. the us is the only country with that law

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

So ..... um ..... OP, after reading all of these answwers, will you be throwing any more junk in our waterways?




???

 

[nuboat2me]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

I live on a lake... I realliy don't like picking up trash on my shoreline or dock...
But I do... From idiots that do "Recycle" paper products...

Empty cans/plastic Pop bottles, paper plates... all go into a designated recepticle... I recycle the Cans / bottles and put the paper in the bin in the garage when we get back.

Leave only ripples...

 

[JoLin]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

The other day I was eating a deer steak, and there was a piece of bone in the steak about a square inch in size. I just threw that overboard. I know that will not hurt anything. It will just sit on the bottom while catfish eat on it.

I see your point about the paper looking bad, and getting into intakes, but i don't think it chemically hurts the water.
I mean I quess it would be better to burn the paper, but then maybe it increases global warming? Is paper in a landfill that much better than paper in the ocean or a bay?

I know a few people who throw glass beer bottles overboard a lot, I never do that.

I can't believe this is a serious thread. Are you just trying to get a rise out of people?

Keep your garbage in your boat and carry it off with you when you leave. I knew enough to clean up after myself by the time I was 4 years old, fer chrissake.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

I honestly couldn't toss trash overboard. I don't know what kind of inconsiderate person would have the mindset to be holding a napkin, paper plate, etc... and think it was perfectly fine to just chuck it into the water?

To each their own, but any person who steps foot on my boat will use my garbage bags and collect any and all trash.

 

[DonHof]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

Stay away from our lakes, I have enough to pick up after other people! Don't need another one.

 

[Mr_Shamrock]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

It's amazing the lack of respect people have these days. My family and I make a point to pick up anything we see on the beach or floating in the water. We were hanging out at our favorite beach last Saturday and when the boat that was next to us (about 15 yards away) backed out there was a beer can floating in the water. I ran over there and yelled "Hey you forgot something!" He just smirked and kept going. I had some nice words for him. I still remember him and his boat and hopefully will get a chance to "speak" with him one day. As beautiful as our waterways are how can anyone even think about throwing trash out????? FREAKING AMAZING!!!!!!

 

[shrew]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

According to the regs:

"It is illegal to dump garbage in all inland bodies of water. Also it is never legal to dump plastics into federally controlled or inland bodies of water.

If operating within three miles of shore, the only trash a boater can toss overboard is fresh fish or fish parts, dishwater or graywater. Dishwater is the water left over after cleaning dished, provided it does not have food suspended in the water. Graywater is water left over water from bathing but does not include toilet water.

From 3 to 12 miles offshore, boaters must grind their trash to less than one inch, including food, crockery, rags, glass, metal and paper. This can go overboard. However, plastic and packing materials remain forbidden.

From 12 to 25 miles offshore, packing materials and plastic is forbidden

More than 25 miles and the ban on plastic remains."


So, if you are less than 3 miles from shore on the ocean or on ANY inland lake, river or stream, you absolutely, positively CAN NOT dump paper or food, or food by products into the water. Note the food particulates in grey water is not the same as tossing your half-eaten burger overboard. This is the fine line between the government setting legislation that dictates how and when we live our lives and the government trusting that we have the ability to excercise some common sense.

It's people like this that force greater and greater legislation until I have to be told how many squares of toilet paper I'm allowed to use.

I have an easy solution. If I see someone toss something overboard, I'll go pick it up and then bring it over to him. Toss it on his boat and say "Hey, you dropped something".

 

[roncoop75]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

hell, plenty of boats discharge toliet paper. assuming they are 3 miles offshore, or not in us waters. the us is the only country with that law

While you might be too young to remember this, there were commercials in the 70's, IIRC, that were anti-littering, the ones with the crying indian at the end.

There are a reason we have those laws. Things were getting pretty messy. We'd all rather not go down that road again.

 

[Mercury13]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

I would think if we were fine with throwing paper overboard, we'd eventually start doing it with plastic, cans etc..
If you're bagging your other trash, why not add the paper towel ?

Mercury13

 

[shrew]

Re: Is throwing paper products overboard bad for the water?

Regarding toilet paper discharged from holding tanks. That is a specially designed toilet paper. If you've ever used it you know what I mean. It is meant to break down in the holding tank, and does so incredibly quickly. So quickly, in fact, that it practically does so in your hand. You can't really use it with wet hands. Jumping out of the water and running to the head doesn't really work well. The minute that paper hits water, it turns to a slurry. When I have to discharge my holding tank (YES, more than 3 miles offshore) it is nothing but liquid. regular toilet paper and tight marine plumbing don't work well together.