Burning Compostable garbage

[kyonu]

Okay, so here's my dilemma. When I get into an RV, I plan on staying out for at least a month at a time. Obviously this means stocking up on food stuffs and being prepared for garbage disposal while in the wilderness.

With that in mind, I'm a fairly green person. I try to make as little trash as possible (which is nearly impossible right now since I'm forced to pay for the garbage truck, causing me to just buy as cheap as possible), and I like to find ways to make use of things more than once, including trash.

I was thinking--there's RV-capable wood burning stoves and the like out there. Has anyone ever thought of burning their trash in one of these? Now, I'm not talking plastics and the like, I plan on buying large supplies of compostable plates, bowls, and cups to save on water ( http://www.webstaurantstore.com/599...postable-plates-platters-bowls-and-trays.html ) which are environmentally friendly. Anything else I will keep in storage until I make it into town. This also saves on water since I don't have to wash dishes.

Has anyone done this? Obviously doing it outside can make a huge ash mess, which I don't want to be responsible for. Also, if this is doable, that allows me to put in a heating element so when I burn, I get free hot water! (Just my mind rambling...)

Any thoughts?

 

[Lucky mike]

HHHmmm.....plastic plates , water is cheap......free hotwater can be made in a solar set up, Depending on where you are , burning trash is illegal in alot of places

I dont picture being anywhere where water is not available in a 30 day period within a short distance

 

[Spirituallifetime]

If you keep the dishes and cookware to a minimum it will take very little water to wash dishes. 1 plate 1 bowl 1 fork, spoon, knife set per person and 1 fry pan and sauce pan. This way dishes won't pile up and use a lot of water doing dishes and keeps things to a minimum in the van. I have washed dishes with a quart of water or less.

 

[WheelEstate USA]

Plastic plates work for us. We re-use plastic tubs (lunchmeat, tater salad, etc) for bowls and storage.
Most of the time I serve Margie on plate or bowl and I just finish off what's left right from the pan. Bindi handles the "pre-wash" if its not too spicy.

We use small totes for dish pans. Dirty stuff goes in 1, covered by the lid, till time to wash. Rinse water can be covered and kept for next wash or rinse the body. The solar shower is handy and helps save water too.

 

[Suanne]

I also use mostly plastic dishes (old Tupperware), and lightweight metal utensils. I wash with a spray bottle which uses very little water.

This is how I do it: First, with leftover napkins or paper towels, wipe off any food particles left on the dirty pots, pans, plates, glasses, utensils, etc. It's important to wipe the food off right away, before it has a chance to harden or stick. Then spray with vinegar (white distilled) and water (up to 50%). It both disinfects and cuts any grease. If I want even more disinfecting power, I'll spray with hydrogen peroxide and let sit for 15 minutes. Wipe dry. I learned this method from Bob, our forum owner; and have been doing it since 2010. I love the simplicity.

Suanne

 

[kyonu]

I like that idea, Suanne. I use vinegar and water to clean a lot of things, as I'm a huge naturals freak. Anyways, what do all of you do with bags of garbage when out boondocking?

 

[Zil]

just use it to train the bears and coyotes to appreciate people.

 

[Suanne]

... what do all of you do with bags of garbage when out boondocking?

I typically have very minimal garbage. To reduce the amount of "packaging" trash I accumulate, I use and re-use zip-lock freezer bags. If available, I buy in bulk and store in zip-lock bags. If bulk purchases are not available, I'll repackage my purchases in zip-lock bags and throw away the packaging while still in the store parking lot.

For those trash items I collect while boondocking, I store until I get to a trash receptacle when replenishing my supplies or doing laundry in town.

When alone, I rarely build a fire. But, when I'm at a gathering like the RTR where there's a fire every night, I have taken my paper trash to the campfire to burn.

Suanne

 

[Reducto]

I rarely wash dishes at all - I just use a non-stick pan and slick plastic containers as my plate/bowl/food storage. I wipe them off with rags either right away or after they have dried, depending on what it is. Most things just flake right off after drying. The rags are left to dry and put in with my laundry, which I can do on site if I am near a water source, or they can wait until I get back to town. Cheap washcloths are like $4 for 16 and don't take up much space.

If you're preparing raw meat this wouldn't work, but I just stick to cans or pouches of pre-cooked meat.

A Kelly Kettle can be handy for dealing with paper and cardboard:
http://www.amazon.com/Kelly-Kettle-USA-Volcano-Boiling/dp/B004GLCKZC/

 

[Suanne]

Reducto,

That's a great idea to use a Kelly Kettle to burn up paper and cardboard trash. I even have one, but just didn't think about using it as a way to get rid of paper trash while heating water. Thanks!

Suanne

 

[akrvbob]

I'm not a fan of woodstoves in vans or RVs. I do know one guy who did it and made it look pretty good. But if you do get one I recommend you look into marine woodstoves intended for boats, my friends was because he was a boater all his life. Their better designed and made for tight spaces and safety.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

well I am all for burning my paper trash but out west with burn bans all summer it's not available in the summer. so I just deal with it. I also will not use disposable type diner ware. it has always amazed me on how environmental type people I have camped with use this stuff. they preach this or that about saving the planet and then use this stuff. blows my mind. highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I find that my Beagle makes an excellent 'pre-wash'. No food waste to deal with. I usually just need to wipe them off and disinfect.
I like solid dinnerware. None of this floppy plates, red solo cups and breakable sporks
-- Spiff

 

[kyonu]

it has always amazed me on how environmental type people I have camped with use this stuff. they preach this or that about saving the planet and then use this stuff. blows my mind. highdesertranger

You can get paperware that's made from recycled material. In fact, the compostable material I was looking at (maybe not in the link above, but I've been browsing a few sites) is also made from recycled material. Using recycled material is more environmental than reusing a solid dish, as a solid dish isn't recycled. Just IMO, obviously.

 

[Lucky mike]

You can get paperware that's made from recycled material. In fact, the compostable material I was looking at (maybe not in the link above, but I've been browsing a few sites) is also made from recycled material. Using recycled material is more environmental than reusing a solid dish, as a solid dish isn't recycled. Just IMO, obviously.

Yet burning your trash is environmentally friendly......?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Using recycled material is more environmental than reusing a solid dish, as a solid dish isn't recycled. Just IMO, obviously.

In the 20 years I have 'recycled' my solid dish, you would have used ~20,000 paper plates. I am the 3rd generation of Spacemen to have used my silverware. Mugs, waterbottle, etc.: Thrift store 'recycled'. That, to me, is environmentally friendly -- Spiff

 

[kyonu]

In the 20 years I have 'recycled' my solid dish, you would have used ~20,000 paper plates. I am the 3rd generation of Spacemen to have used my silverware. Mugs, waterbottle, etc.: Thrift store 'recycled'. That, to me, is environmentally friendly -- Spiff

Haha, fair enough.

@Mike: Is it? I was under the impression burning paper trash was more environmentally friendly than taking it to the dump, where they spends a whole bunch of oil to cover up the garbage so it doesn't come free.

 

[sephson]

Off hand I'd say, if you're going to have a fire anyway, you may as well burn your paper trash. Use it to help start the fire.

 

[highdesertranger]

recycling requires large amounts of water. enough water that tens of thousands of people could wash their dishes. I use metal dishes which are 100% recyclable, I have had my kitchenware for 40+ years some belonged to my mom and dad. what do you do with those recycled paper plates when you're done with them? what I am trying to say is just because something is recycled doesn't make it green. highdesertranger

 

[DC Fuse]

I too use those tupperware type containers as much as possible.
When i pick up groceries i take what i can out of it's box and store it in these and put all the garbage in the stores trash can.
I try not to bring it in to the campsite as much as possible.