A garbage record book is a log of all garbage disposal and incineration operations carried out on your vessel.

Vessels required to have a garbage record book

Garbage record books are currently mandatory for:

• vessels of 400 gross tonnage (GT) and above  
• vessels of 100 GT and above on an overseas voyage
• vessels certified to carry 15 or more people on an overseas voyage
• fixed or floating platforms.

Masters of fishing vessels must record the discharge or loss of fishing gear in a garbage record book or the ship’s official logbook.

Changes to vessels required to have a garbage record book 

New global requirements under the MARPOL Convention commenced in May 2024. These relate to holding and maintaining a garbage record book for vessels of 100 GT and above.  

Since 1 May 2024, Australian vessels of 100 GT and above on an overseas voyage have been required to maintain a garbage record book in addition to a garbage management plan.

Updates will be made to Australian legislation to apply the new international minimum standard to vessels of 100 GT and above that operate domestically. This will include domestic commercial vessels and pleasure craft. 

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If your vessel is 24 metres or more in measured length, it may exceed 100 GT. To determine the gross tonnage of your vessel you can:

• check the certification issued for the vessel
• check the International Convention on the Tonnage Measurement of Ships 1969
• check with a recognised organisation.

What to record

The garbage record book must include an entry for every discharge or incineration. This includes:

• permitted discharges to sea
• discharges to onshore facilities
• discharges to other vessels
• any accidental loss of garbage overboard.

The entry must detail the:

• date and time
• position of the ship 
• category of garbage 
• estimated quantity discharged or incinerated. 

How long to keep the book

You must keep your completed garbage record books for 2 years from the date of the last entry. 

Year 1: The completed garbage record book must be kept on board the ship. 
Year 2: The completed garbage record may be kept either on board the ship or in the owner’s registered office. 

Sections to fill in

Garbage record books are divided into Part I and Part II. 

Part I is used by all vessels and covers discharges of:

A. Plastics
B. Food wastes
C. Domestic wastes
D. Cooking oil
E. Incinerator ashes 
F. Operational wastes
G. Animal carcass(es)
H. Fishing gear
I. E-waste

Part II is only required for vessels that carry solid bulk cargoes and covers discharges of:

J. Cargo residues (non-Harmful to the Marine Environment)
K. Cargo residues (Harmful to the Marine Environment).

Get a garbage record book

Download a free printable garbage record book or buy a hard copy.

Relevant regulations

Garbage record book requirements are in line with Annex V of the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL)—Regulations for the prevention of pollution by garbage from ships.