It’s Easy Being Green

For boaters, clean water is personal. You don’t need to be an environmentalist to want clean and healthy waterways. Boaters can help protect water resources by being aware of clean boater practices and promote and respect eco-friendly practices at your marina and at the fuel dock.

Boaters tend to drink a lot of water and other fluids when on the water. Consider reusable insulated water bottles. Take along a bag to collect recyclables including catalogs, newspapers, magazines, glass bottles and jars, aluminum cans, tin cans, aerosol cans, steel cans and plastic bottles and containers.

Check with your marina what can be recycled onsite or take it home for disposal with your home recycling.

Do Not Dispose of in the Trash:

Used Oil and Lubricants

Antifreeze

Fishing Line

Flourescent light bulbs

Lead Batteries

Shrink Wrap

Old Flares (give to USCG Aux for practice days)

Visit  http://earth911.com to locate recycling facilities near you.

There are better, cleaner ways to maintain your boat. Small changes in practices can prevent boaters from unwittingly contaminating local waters.

• Keep your bilge clean. Use bilge pads.
• Recycle used oil, oil filters and absorbant pads.
• Avoid topping off the fuel tank. Use a rag to catch spills at the nozzle.
• Never use soap to disperse a fuel or oil spill. It is harmful to the environment and against the law.
• Do not discard fish scraps in the water.
• Never release live bait into the marina basin.
• Always use a marine pumpout service.
• Perform boat repair in the yard, not in the water.
• Use phosphate-free, chlorine-free, and nontoxic cleaning products. Cleaning products go directly into the water. Toxic bottom paint without any action goes directly into the water.
• Keep boating waters litter free. Secure trash onboard and bring back what you take out.
• Never dispose of anything down a storm drain.
• Practice carry in, carry out boating. Dispose of bottles, cans, and plastics in home recycling bins.