MBSC Environmental Policy

In March of this year, MBSC adopted a new Environmental Policy. Its goals, best practices and rules reflect our Club’s values and compliance with Applicable laws. The Environmental Committee has worked for a year developing this policy and we feel it will create a safer, cleaner, and responsible environment for our Club. It basically lays out practices already used by most Club members.

The Best practices which should be particularly adhered to before launch are the following:

HULL AND UPPER DECK MAINTENANCE
Boat owners should:
Do shore-based maintenance work in areas away from the water;
Use dustless sanders or needle guns that are fitted with vacuum shrouds;
Immediately collect and dispose of any scraping or sanding residue, ensuring that none is released into the harbour
Use drop cloths to contain paint chips and residues;
Use only small quantities of solvents and paints to avoid large spills of these materials and make sure containers are tightly sealed when not in use;
Reuse thinners and solvents by letting particles settle; and,
Save left-over paint for reuse.
VESSEL CLEANING
Boat owners should:
Use solvents only in areas away from the water.
Not use products that contain chlorine, phosphates, or ammonia.
Use only environmentally friendly/biodegradable products as much as possible.
STORMWATER
Boat owners should:
Only conduct maintenance ashore away from the water.
Use a tarp or drop sheet to collect dust and/or other contaminants that may fall from the boat during maintenance.

HAZARDOUS WASTE:
Both federal and provincial Transportation of Dangerous Goods Acts apply to the transport of hazardous waste. The MBSC does not collect nor return hazardous waste materials on behalf of boat owners. The responsibility to ensure hazardous materials are stored, cared for, used, and disposed of in accordance with current regulations rests with the user of those materials. In most cases hazardous materials may be disposed of at the Simcoe County facility on Golf Links Road.
The following activities are prohibited at the MBSC:

  • In-water hull cleaning other than by brush, sponge or cloth.
  • Activities where there is a possibility that scrapings may enter the lake either directly or after being carried by drainage or surface water.
  • Sandblasting; and,
  • Spray painting.