Section 151.73 - Operating requirements: Discharge of garbage from fixed or floating platforms(a) Except as allowed in paragraph (b) of this section, no person may discharge garbage from- (1) A fixed or floating platform engaged in the exploration, exploitation or associated offshore processing of seabed mineral resources; or(2) Any ship within 500 meters (1650 feet) of such platforms.(b) Food waste may be discharged into the surrounding waters from a ship or fixed or floating platform regulated by paragraph (a) of this section if-(1) It is processed with a grinder or comminuter meeting the standards in § 151.75 ; and(2) That ship or fixed or floating drilling rig or platform is beyond 12 nautical miles from nearest land.CGD 88-002, 54 FR 18405, Apr. 28, 1989, as amended by USCG-2012-1049, 78 FR 13493 , Feb. 28, 2013