Taking Out the Trash
This is one subject I have not seen in the hundreds of articles, mini-articles, and blog comments I have read about how to prepare and survive. what is ahead. The subject of “taking out the trash” will become a serious issue for most of us who cannot completely vacate our place in the suburbs. You may discount this issue initially, but planning for this should be integrated into much of your preparations. There are two primary issues to be addressed here. How will you be able to dispose of garbage, and how can you do this without attracting unwanted attention. Do not count on public garbage collection continuing on a reliable basis when things get serious. Years ago, I remember hearing about a sanitation workers strike in New York City that lasted for weeks. In the 1970’s England went through a recession and a devaluation of the British Pound. During that time garbage pick up, along with many other public services, was suspended for months in many cities.
You are certainly gathering quantities of water, food, and supplies to improve your chances of survival when things get really serious. Unless you want strangers coming along to relieve you of your preparations, you had better not advertise your preparation efforts when you are taking out the trash even before it gets bad. Someone may remember their curiosity about some of the packaging you trashed. This of course becomes even more critical once circumstances get really serious.
There are plenty of dumpster divers in our society already. When real trouble hits, many desperate people will be looking for any sign of where they might find food nearby. Remember also that civilians may not be the only people searching for these clues. Addressing this issue in your planning will take more than simply finding a dumpster away from your house. If people find signs of food in a dumpster, such as empty food cans, believe me, they will try to find how it got there, even if they have to wait for your next deposit. If, as some Preparers fear, regulations against “hoarding” are imposed, this issue could get really ugly before you know it.
Give some thought into what you are storing and how you are storing it. What will you do with your containers after the contents have been used? Some of you have collected a supply of canned foods, or MREs. These are especially problematic because of the traces of food left in an empty can or plastic pouch. These tidbits will attract bugs (or worse) and can also generate unpleasant smells if not disposed of soon. Even if they are crushed and bagged for disposal, this may still pose a challenge unless they are washed. If your water supply is limited, you probably do not want to be washing the things you are going to throw away. There is a possibility that you might “rinse” the inside of the container immediately after opening with a small amount of boiling water and add that water to a soup or add it to the water you are using to prepare your meal. (And while we are thinking about water use, have you really thought through what it will take to wash your dishes and yourselves?) This might at least mitigate the sanitation problems.
Crushing the cans, plastics, and all other materials will greatly reduce the volume of materials needing disposal. Next you must determine which disposal method to use. Burying it is great for disposal if you have the space. Avoiding attention in doing so becomes a significant issue in this method. Also, After this goes on for a while the space requirements and work required can become troublesome.
I am assuming that if you are fortunate enough to still have trash pick up service still functioning, you still do not want attention drawn to your preparations by those who failed to prepare. If you may be able to dispose of some of your trash in dumpsters. You may need to wrap it to keep it from being readily discovered. Multiple small packages will be easier to dispose of without attracting attention. Be sure not to include anything that would identify you or your location to the curious. You will need to plan on what you can use wrap your trash, or at least portions of it. Are there other materials (used paper, plastic bags, paper bags, used foil, etc.) that after being used, can be reused to bundle other trash.
A classic method for dealing with garbage years ago was to burn trash even at landfills! I can remember when each public school had their own incinerator for that purpose to reduce the burden on public landfills. Virtually everyone living in rural locations had a spot for burning their own trash. That of course was before the government created the EPA to protect us from ourselves. Any activity even remotely similar today or after the crisis will be like waving a huge flag once the serious trouble begins. Even if you have a fireplace and it is winter, the variation in aroma from firewood (if firewood is even allowed in your community, and no, I am not kidding about that!) may cause a concern regarding discovery. Another special issue for some of you will be disposing of any plastic water or food containers. I for one do not want to burn any kind of plastic in my fireplace. As mentioned before, there is the option of burying it (like your own private landfill.) That may be a workable solution if you have a large enough spot that is not easily seen while you are digging. If this is not feasible you need to develop a plan that fits your situation.
Obviously some of the packaging for your supplies can be simply crushed or stacked and kept in place. The concern is those containers and materials that may cause a sanitation issue when used. The best solutions may involve treating different kinds of trash in different ways, or even changing your methods as your situation progresses.
No one solution will work for everyone. Everyone’s situation will be different. I just wanted to throw out some ideas, and help you to think through your preparations.
[/CODE] Think it through, and prepare well. Finally, let’s take the lead together once we get through this.
Prepare well for your family.
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