Incinerator for Garbage

[lorenzo b]

Got this reply from another forum, thought I would share it

On the subject of incinerating trash ....... it works ......almost
everything burns.

I built a solid fuel heater for my boat some years ago. I have never used it
for heat. As a trash burner it is used daily and is probably the most used
appliance in the boat. They should be heavily built. Mine is 1/4" wall 8"
square tubing (aka box beam). Burning oil soaked absorbent pads generates a
pretty hot flame so you need a burner that won't deform when things get to
"woofin" a bit.

I also built one for some folks on a grand banks and they hang it over the
stern outside so the ashes drop directly in the bay (ashes are sterile).

I can't imagine not having it ........

[Vasco]

We burn most of it it on deserted beaches. Tin cans and bottles (break them first) we save to dump at sea, beer cans burn very well. Usually get a few boats together and start the fire with old engine oil.

[unbusted67]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

Quote I do agree that burning oil at sea would not appear to be a good environmental process to consider.

What do suppose powers 95% of the ships at sea?
How do you feel about burning oil on land?
What do you suppose heats New England in the winter?
I apologize for being a wise ass, but it does seem to me to be a serious disconnect between what we think we're doing to help the environment and what actually happens.

Damn you and your logic!

I hear you, but that doesn't mean we should burn more of it when you can put it to good use a second time. In the end it is your choice and that is one of the things that I like about recycling. It is my choice to make and it feels good to know that I am not being wasteful.

I think a lot of times people think of recycling as something only weird hippies do but to me it is about choice and about frugality. My parents taught me not to waste anything.

PS that is one of the main reasons I moved out of New England. You can pay your rent in oil prices monthly. Most landlords are switching over to cheaper heating methods in those breezy old apartments.

[lorenzo b]

It's a tough nut. I'm all for recycling whatever makes sense. Even if it doesn't make sense, just the gesture can be a reminder to do better. I spent the last 30 years living in SF where all our trash went into little color coded bins. As a contractor I would go to the dump several times a week and there were five distinct locations to offload depending on what you had.
Being at sea is a whole other bag of worms. I'm just trying to figure what the reasonable solution is going to be. Most places worth going to do not recycle, they either burn or dump their trash, so it seems to me that I can do that better than they will. Can't tell you how many smoldering stinky dumps I've walked past in various countries.
I am getting some good pointers on how to incinerate at very high temperatures and I'm hoping that will be a reasonable solution.

[lorenzo b]

Another great response

Hi Lorenzo,
on Diesel Duck we carry a small shovel and used it, when their is no
possibility to dispose garbage on shore in the proper way. We sort the
garbage, metal cans get thrown over board, out in the deep water, with the
bottom cut open or holes punched into. Food leftovers go over the side aswell,
but not in a anchorage with zillion fellow boaters in it.
Burnable goods, like plastic, paper towels, rags, old engine oil, cardboard
containers and Tetrapaks container( for milk, wine, juice etc.) we take to
shore in the dinghi at remote islands of the San Blas, Bahamas, Turks and
Caicos, Aves, Los Rogues etc. We select a good spot up on the beach, take in
consideration where the wind blows from, if any. Aswell the spot shall not put
the island on fire, if wind comes up !!!! With the shovel we dig a good hole.
While I do this in preparing the burning site, Marlene (my wife) combs the
beach, collecting zillions of plastic bottles, which the sea has swept on,
driftwood, styrofaom bits, you name it, it's there! While I have prepared the
burnside like a good old camp fire, I use as fire starter the old engine oil,
it does a tremendous job. We guard the fire and keep it feeding with driftwood
and a good ratio of plastic bottles. (please make shure of the bottles being
open, they can shoot or blow up!!
Especially drifted on, old plastic engine oil containers with rest-oil in
it). The dinghi bailer with seawater in it, is allways close by to play Fire
Department if needed.
Later on, after the fire has burned out and is soaked with seawater, I use the
shovel to close the hole using plenty of sand. You would not even know, there
was garbage burnt, when walking by.
regards, Benno + Marlene

[NativeUSAindian]

Originally Posted by gosstyla

A few years ago ECIS, a subsidiary of Eberspacher, WC line of incinerator toilets were being advertised as being available for marine use. They looked interesting but don't believe they ever came out with a marine version.

Their incinerator seems designed primarily for use with liquid waste so doubt it would also work with solid materials.

Also, in US, I believe the EPA has tightened up on incineration discharge rules.

I here they have newer ones now that make your pop a nice charcoal and the ash pan can hold 8 pop burns befor dumping or put it in to your coal bucket.

[NativeUSAindian]

Originally Posted by lorenzo b

Another great response

Hi Lorenzo,
on Diesel Duck we carry a small shovel and used it, when their is no
possibility to dispose garbage on shore in the proper way. We sort the
garbage, metal cans get thrown over board, out in the deep water, with the
bottom cut open or holes punched into. Food leftovers go over the side aswell,
but not in a anchorage with zillion fellow boaters in it.
Burnable goods, like plastic, paper towels, rags, old engine oil, cardboard
containers and Tetrapaks container( for milk, wine, juice etc.) we take to
shore in the dinghi at remote islands of the San Blas, Bahamas, Turks and
Caicos, Aves, Los Rogues etc. We select a good spot up on the beach, take in
consideration where the wind blows from, if any. Aswell the spot shall not put
the island on fire, if wind comes up !!!! With the shovel we dig a good hole.
While I do this in preparing the burning site, Marlene (my wife) combs the
beach, collecting zillions of plastic bottles, which the sea has swept on,
driftwood, styrofaom bits, you name it, it's there! While I have prepared the
burnside like a good old camp fire, I use as fire starter the old engine oil,
it does a tremendous job. We guard the fire and keep it feeding with driftwood
and a good ratio of plastic bottles. (please make shure of the bottles being
open, they can shoot or blow up!!
Especially drifted on, old plastic engine oil containers with rest-oil in
it). The dinghi bailer with seawater in it, is allways close by to play Fire
Department if needed.
Later on, after the fire has burned out and is soaked with seawater, I use the
shovel to close the hole using plenty of sand. You would not even know, there
was garbage burnt, when walking by.
regards, Benno + Marlene

Yap not a good ideal those poor fish get stuck in the garbage like a cat gets it head stuck in a jar.

[Dockhead]

Trash management on a long cruise can be a pain. I guess most people use anchor lockers for trash storage, but this is not an optimal solution, to say the least.

There was a discussion on here some time ago about using trash compactors on board:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ors-23699.html

There was no definite conclusion. I can't imagine how big your boat would have to be in order to have room for a trash compactor. Mine is 54' and there is simply no place for one unless I sacrificed a whole galley cabinet, which I will not.

I think the first thing cruisers learn about trash management is to never mix organic with non-organic waste. We keep a bucket for organic waste (does anyone use a garbage disposal in the sink?!) and it simply goes over the side (in appropriate places). The other stuff gets stomped down and taken apart and is stored under the companionway until we get into port. On a longer passage at sea we would certainly dump the metal, paper and glass -- it's legal and I don't see any harm in it.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Might be a good idea, just don't invite me over for grilled fish or steaks that's been grilled on your incinerator BBQ...

[Auspicious]

I follow Marpol. Well offshore (read the regs) everything but plastic and petroleum products goes over the side. Island-hopping I do the best I can to follow the most green practices among the locals. Some stuff gets burned because that is better than the dumping the locals do.

[nigel1]

If we are to follow MARPOL, then a type approved incinerator is needed for burning plastics. I think MARPOL has the specs, it has to burn at a minimum termperature.

[Auspicious]

Originally Posted by nigel1

If we are to follow MARPOL, then a type approved incinerator is needed for burning plastics. I think MARPOL has the specs, it has to burn at a minimum termperature.

I minimize plastics on baord. What we do have gets flattened and stored for appropriate disposal ashore. You don't have to incinerate to be in accordance with MARPOL.

[s/v 'Faith']

Originally Posted by Auspicious

I minimize plastics on baord. What we do have gets flattened and stored for appropriate disposal ashore. You don't have to incinerate to be in accordance with MARPOL.

I don't think he intended it to read that you had to have an incinerator to be in compliance... I believe the intent was IF you were going to have an incinerator... then it would have to be type approved to be in compliance.

(since the OP suggested using a BBQ grill).

That is how I read it anyway.



I am thinking I would not want to eat a burger cooked in a grill normally used to burn plastics...

[Sabbatical II]

Incinerating at sea is something I have been contemplating for a while. I am well aware that many skippers do not like to put toilet paper down the loo, but actually save it in a suitable recepticle for disposal later. If this was your inclination, surely on passage an incinerator for this purpose and for burning paper waste would be ideal. And of course I'm presuming it needs to be done when well offshore and with the breeze forward of the beam. Any sensible comments?

Greg

[nigel1]

Originally Posted by s/v 'Faith'

I don't think he intended it to read that you had to have an incinerator to be in compliance... I believe the intent was IF you were going to have an incinerator... then it would have to be type approved to be in compliance.

(since the OP suggested using a BBQ grill).

That is how I read it anyway.



I am thinking I would not want to eat a burger cooked in a grill normally used to burn plastics...

Your right, thats what I meant to say, you dont need an incinerator, but if you do, its has to be compliant.
Shame is, some 20 years after the MAROL garbage regulations came into force, many ports still lack facilities for disposal, let alone re-cycling.