Once SHTF life is going to be hard enough. You certainly do not want to have to deal with rats or other critters milling around your trash and you do not want to leave signs for others to show that you still have food. Food cans, empty food bags, bottles and more in the trash is a sure sign that you have food in your house.
The best thing to do would be to try and recycle as much of your trash as you can and burn what is left right away. Tin cans can be washed out and used for small planters for herbs. They can be used to make an alarm system. In a pinch they could even be used for drinking out of it you make sure to smooth down the rims so on one cuts their mouth on them.
Paper can be used to start fires, make new paper, beddding for small animals and even litter for a cat. It can also be used to mop up spills so you will have less towels to wash.
Plastic bottles with caps can be reused to store water, carry water or even as small planters as long as they have been washed very well. You might not want to use old bleach containers and others like them that have held chemicals but plastic food containers will be safe for reuse.
Card board can be used to cut down weeds in the garden. Lay them down under a layer of mulch to help keep the weeds at bay. It can also be used in a fire or as a added layer of insulation on walls and windows. Large pieces of cardboard can be cut to fit windows and then painted black to block out the light you use at night so others won't see it.
Now matter how careful you are about cooking just enough for one meal at a time there is always going to be food scraps, peelings, bones, shells and so on. Feed what you can to your pets and livestock then put the rest that can be composted in the bottom of the compost bin to hide them. The bones and any other scraps that can not be recycled can be buried so as not to attract critters like rats, mice and others.
When SHTF you might not think about your trash first so now would be a good time to figure out just how you are going to handle it and have that plan in place when the time comes.
Prepping Granny
The best thing to do would be to try and recycle as much of your trash as you can and burn what is left right away. Tin cans can be washed out and used for small planters for herbs. They can be used to make an alarm system. In a pinch they could even be used for drinking out of it you make sure to smooth down the rims so on one cuts their mouth on them.
Paper can be used to start fires, make new paper, beddding for small animals and even litter for a cat. It can also be used to mop up spills so you will have less towels to wash.
Plastic bottles with caps can be reused to store water, carry water or even as small planters as long as they have been washed very well. You might not want to use old bleach containers and others like them that have held chemicals but plastic food containers will be safe for reuse.
Card board can be used to cut down weeds in the garden. Lay them down under a layer of mulch to help keep the weeds at bay. It can also be used in a fire or as a added layer of insulation on walls and windows. Large pieces of cardboard can be cut to fit windows and then painted black to block out the light you use at night so others won't see it.
Now matter how careful you are about cooking just enough for one meal at a time there is always going to be food scraps, peelings, bones, shells and so on. Feed what you can to your pets and livestock then put the rest that can be composted in the bottom of the compost bin to hide them. The bones and any other scraps that can not be recycled can be buried so as not to attract critters like rats, mice and others.
When SHTF you might not think about your trash first so now would be a good time to figure out just how you are going to handle it and have that plan in place when the time comes.
Prepping Granny