Food Waste Only Sign

Food Waste Only Sign – MS0094

The Food Waste Only Sign (MS0094) is a photoluminescent ISO 7010 mandatory pictogram carrying the heading “marine garbage disposal regulations” above the instruction “food waste only,” designating a garbage receptacle for food waste segregation in strict accordance with MARPOL Annex V. Manufactured to marine-grade specifications, the sign is built to withstand the corrosive, high-humidity conditions found aboard vessels while remaining clearly legible in both daylight and low-light or emergency lighting conditions.

MARPOL Annex V requires ships to segregate garbage into defined categories – including food waste, plastics, and other operational waste – because the discharge rules and permitted distances from land differ sharply between categories. Mixing food waste with other garbage streams risks improper disposal and serious pollution violations. The Food Waste Only Sign gives an unambiguous, language-independent visual instruction that reinforces the vessel’s Garbage Management Plan and helps the Master and Environmental Officer demonstrate compliance during port state control and flag state inspections.

Why Face Protection Matters

While this sign addresses garbage segregation rather than personal protective equipment, it forms part of the broader suite of mandatory instructional signage required throughout a vessel’s galley, mess, and waste-handling areas. Consistent, standardised signage across all mandatory-action categories – PPE, hygiene, environmental compliance, and procedural instructions – reduces confusion for multinational crews and visiting contractors, ensuring that every worker recognises the same blue-and-white mandatory action pictograms regardless of their first language. A clearly posted Food Waste Only Sign above the designated receptacle is a critical line of defence against MARPOL Annex V violations and marine pollution incidents.

Compliance and Certification

This sign is manufactured in strict accordance with ISO 7010 pictogram standards, ensuring the mandatory action symbol is instantly recognisable across international fleets and multinational crews. Ships operating under the ISM Code are required to maintain an effective Garbage Management Plan and provide appropriate waste-segregation signage as part of their Safety Management System, and SOLAS-regulated vessels must ensure all safety and mandatory signage remains legible and properly maintained throughout the vessel’s operational life. For further detail on IMO environmental and safety requirements, consult the IMO’s official SOLAS resource page. Fitting a compliant Food Waste Only Sign above the designated galley receptacle supports your vessel’s readiness for ISM audits and Port State Control inspections.

Installation Recommendations

Install the Food Waste Only Sign directly above or on the designated food-waste receptacle in the galley or mess, at eye level where catering staff and crew will see it every time they dispose of waste. Use marine-grade adhesive or a mounting bracket suited to a stainless steel or tiled galley wall, keeping the sign clear of splash zones where possible. Avoid locations subject to direct high-pressure washdown or excessive steam that could loosen fixings over time, and inspect signage during routine waste-management rounds to confirm photoluminescent visibility remains effective in an emergency blackout scenario.

• Photoluminescent material charges under normal light and glows in low-light or blackout conditions
• ISO 7010 compliant mandatory action pictogram, internationally recognised
• Durable, corrosion- and UV-resistant construction suited to marine galley environments
• Available in a range of sizes and mounting options for galley waste stations
• Supports ISM Code Garbage Management Plan and MARPOL Annex V compliance

Order the Food Waste Only Sign (SKU: MS0094) today to keep your galley waste receptacles clearly segregated and compliant with IMO mandatory signage requirements, protecting your vessel from MARPOL Annex V violations.

Complete your vessel’s safety signage program by browsing our Hazard Signs and Fire Fighting Signs categories for additional IMO-compliant maritime signage.