The polluter pays: on this principle the CDNI Treaty governing the waste from inland navigation is based. The Treaty deals with the different aspects of waste collection, disposal and treatment for river barges sailing in Belgium, France, Germany, Luxemburg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Euroshore is an international association of port reception facilities active in the collection, storage and treatment of all types of waste generated by seagoing vessels and river barges.
Euroshore members in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands provide adequate solutions for waste problems related to inland navigation: the collection of oily waste, cleaning of hatches and tanks, and the collection of domestic waste and small hazardous waste.
In Western Europe the collection and disposal of waste from inland shipping is a harmonised system set up by the CDNI Treaty. In the Eastern part of Europe new developments through the Co-Wanda project are striving for a similar system. First steps are made by the secretariats of both institutions to harmonise both conventions. As a result there will be a geographical area covering almost the entire European surface with a more or less harmonised approach for the collection, storage and treatment of all types of waste originated by inland navigation.
The legislation regulates the disposal and elimination of three main waste categories:
- oily waste generated by the vessel,
- cargo residues after unloading of the cargo. Certain cleaning standards have to be respected
- house hold waste and small hazardous waste.
The convention does not include all types of waste generated by inland waterways vessels. Vapours that remain in tanks after unloading, are not yet covered by this legislation. However, most terminals require a gas free vessel before loading. A cleaning certificate of an approved installation is not yet needed. Three of Euroshore members specialize in vapour recovery services for inland barges and tankers.