This may not be the fault of the cruise lines, but guilt by association casts the industry in a negative light. 

A waste disposal company has been accused of taking garbage from several cruise lines and dumping it illegally near Cozumel, Mexico.

The Cozumel-based company, Ecología Industrial y Marina del Caribe, has been fined for illegally dumping waste and recyclable material. The incidents took place in May, and the fine came after an investigation. The company did not dispose of the waste at sea, but used an illegal dumping ground on an island.

There was nothing specific in any of the garbage that would identify any of the cruise lines.

While the cruise companies were not directly involved, their efforts to clean up their image and create a more sustainable future was certainly compromised. The illegal dumping of cruise ship waste is still fresh in people’s minds, although the cruise lines have made great effort to rectify the situation and become more environmentally conscious in the last several years.

It is likely that cruise companies will distance themselves from the waste disposal company in the future.

Cozumel is the world’s busiest port, even bigger than PortMiami and Port Canaveral. According to announced routes and itineraries, Cozumel is expecting more than 1,000 ships this year. 

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