Dumpster Diving and "Bucket" waste disposal

[ZoNiE]

Hmm...

After reading the thread on dumpster diving for extra cash, and then the one about how some folks dispose of their "bucket" contents in the same dumpsters got me thinking.

These are two activities that are totally incompatible. :dodgy:

I personally don't do either, but I also think it is probably not cool to put #2, no matter how well bagged and packed with saw dust or kitty litter in dumpsters. It is unsanitary for any one who may have to retrieve something inadvertently placed in a dumpster, or someone who services the cans, dumpsters, and trucks.

Also, sharp objects in the dumpster can puncture the bags, and then the contents can migrate everywhere.

All this talk about being stealthy and also not leaving a trace, being good neighbors all goes away when one places their shit in a garbage can in front of somebody's home. I'm sure someone has done it.

I think disposing of human feces in garbage cans is just something that should not be done at all. (Even diapers, but that is a different issue, and at least they have padding).

Burying it in the forest is usually OK, but 6" (someone mentioned) is too shallow, and animals will dig it up, so kids can find it. Putting a large rock over it (like I see at the lake) is also a no-no.

12-18 inches is ideal. If camping in the forest, Dig a deep latrine, use it the whole time, adding a layer of dirt after each use, then properly bury it when the top layer is no less than 12" from the ground.

Porta potties do take some getting used to. A user must employ some simple common sense. "flushing" before wiping, for example. The lifestyle does require some "advanced training."

Perhaps some sort of van dweller etiquette is in order here.

Some thing to consider...

 

[gramakittycat]

Sorry but dumpsters are not something I would consider in any way to be "sanitary".While I would never dispose in a residential trash bin I have no problem throwing away a double bagged,kitty littered refuse in a commercial dumpster. Folks with dogs have bags and throw away in park trash cans.I throw away my cats litter box scoopings in trash dumpsters also. Common sense if you must get into a dumpster to retrieve anything you have to look and step carefully.

 

[ccbreder]

Dumpsters come in two basic uses. Trash and recycling. Potty bags are trash. Cat litter is trash. Rotten food or leftover uneatable stuff is trash. All this and more go into trash containers. Anyone dumpster diving better know what they are doing. My trash goes into trash dumpsters.

 

[LeeRevell]

"It's our duty to take care with our doody!"

 

[akrvbob]

My deposits in the dumpster about the size of a softball and all are wrapped well enough that I have no problem handling them and would be willing to let my kids handle them.

But, they aren't just lying around, they are in a Walmart sack with my other trash which is tied up in a lnot. If you are in there opening up bags of trash then you have to be willing to accept whatever you find in there.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

I have tried to bring this up before and got basically the same responses. here in so cal for the big commercial dumpster there is only one for everything. for residential you have the three trash, recyclables, and yard waste. the thing is ALL the trash no matter where it comes from goes to a transfer station where it is sorted. everything is picked through by the sorters all bags are opened. anybody can go to a transfer station and see this for themselves. they check everything to make sure bad things(hazardous materials) don't end up at the landfill. highdesertranger

 

[Marie]

Highdesertranger, would you help me out here? Babies poop in diapers; old folks poop in Depends; dog poop is picked up in plastic bags. Most of this poop ends up in a dumpster somewhere. Do "they" actually hire people to go through every diaper to see if there's hazardous waste in there, or do they consider poop hazardous waste and sort the diapers out to be disposed of at a hazardous waste site? This whole poop situation is getting more and more confusing to me!

 

[SoulRaven]

My deposits in the dumpster about the size of a softball and all are wrapped well enough that I have no problem handling them and would be willing to let my kids handle them.

But, they aren't just lying around, they are in a Walmart sack with my other trash which is tied up in a lnot. If you are in there opening up bags of trash then you have to be willing to accept whatever you find in there.
Bob

This is what I do also, my trash also goes into the bucket before tying it up then disposal.

I always use the trash receptacle at the doggie parks, where all the doggie doo goes.

That's as proper a etiquette as you can get in my  opinion.

 

[highdesertranger]

I can't help you on making a decision of right or wrong or the diaper or the dog poop. I am just telling you like it is. to think that no one is exposed to your poop is a dream. let me ask this do you throw batteries in the trash or used motor oil or electronics or fluorescent bulbs? why would you throw poop into a dumpster. when I say you in this post I don't mean anyone in particular, because I know most on here think it is the acceptable thing to do. highdesetranger

 

[Marie]

Well, Highdesertranger, you have certainly given me - and probably a few others - a lot to think about! Thank you. It isn't going to make my life any easier, but important issues often don't. Thanks again.

PS: No on the throwing batteries, electronics, etc. in dumpsters! Just never compared the two - until now!

 

[BC Guy]

I have tried to bring this up before and got basically the same responses.  here in so cal for the big commercial dumpster there is only one for everything.  for residential you have the three trash,  recyclables,  and yard waste.   the thing is ALL the trash no matter where it comes from goes to a transfer station where it is sorted.  everything is picked through by the sorters all bags are opened.  anybody can go to a transfer station and see this for themselves.  they check everything to make sure bad things(hazardous materials) don't end up at the landfill.  highdesertranger

Well, I have taken many loads of trash to different transfer stations here over the past 50 years, and I can tell you that they do not go and rip every thing open in B.C.
Maybe it is different in California.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

In most places I have been a garbage truck comes up to the dumpster, arms come out, dumps the contents into the back, contents get squished with a hydraulic press.  At the transfer station the compacted mess is dumped down a chute into waiting trucks to be hauled to landfill.  At the landfill a large front loader moves the compacted mess around.  No humans touch the stuff.

 -- Spiff

 

[highdesertranger]

bc guy and space man. not here in so cal. everything goes to a transfer station. unless you personally take it to a land fill. at the landfill they go though it to but most times not as closely as the transfer stations. note how I said most times. sometimes they go though it very closely. highdesertranger

 

[GotSmart]

Things are coming down the belt quite quickly.  They sort out obvious recyclables, obvious toxics, and let the majority keep on going.  There is not the time or incentive to open every black bag that goes past them.   The smaller "poo bombs" are left alone as they are a common thing with doggy doo laws.  (Pick it or ticket.)  

Human waste is a natural thing, and decomposes rapidly. No need to dig a deep hole for a drop.  Here is a simple link to explain.

  http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-sanitation.htm

 

[ccbreder]

NJ has recycling for batteries, motor oils, electronics, as well as the usual stuff. TV and computer tubes are banned from trash and recycle streams. There are hazardous waste days about 3 times a year. Business have separate dumpsters for cardboard, other recycles, and trash. I have to shit now. It will go in the trash.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

 at the landfill they go though it to but most times not as closely as the transfer stations.  note how I said most times.  sometimes they go though it very closely.  highdesertranger

Now there is a career I can aspire to 

 -- Spiff

 

[ZoNiE]

Things are coming down the belt quite quickly.  They sort out obvious recyclables, obvious toxics, and let the majority keep on going.  There is not the time or incentive to open every black bag that goes past them.   The smaller "poo bombs" are left alone as they are a common thing with doggy doo laws.  (Pick it or ticket.)  

Human waste is a natural thing, and decomposes rapidly. No need to dig a deep hole for a drop.  Here is a simple link to explain.

  http://www.nps.gov/olym/planyourvisit/wilderness-sanitation.htm

The problem with a 6" deep hole, is that in heavily camped areas, it either gets re-dug up by someone else digging their own, or dogs brought by campers. I cannot tell you how many times I have come across toilet paper and other items often buried with crap. Unfortunately, many people also just pop a squat and don't bother with the cathole at all.

Dogs will eat human feces, and then come home to lick your face. :s

It's always best to dig a common latrine when camping with a group. It's usually easy in a forest as the ground is often soft enough.

Dog waste poo bombs are pretty obvious. Purple or pink bags, with dog bones printed on them or some other cutsie type of decorating. Of course, people use grocery bags too, but for some reason, human waste stinks worse than dog waste, and if people are using kitchen trash bags, it may not be readily apparent that it is a poo bomb.

 

[GotSmart]

The problem with a 6" deep hole, is that in heavily camped areas, it either gets re-dug up by someone else digging their own, or dogs brought by campers. I cannot tell you how many times I have come across toilet paper and other items often buried with crap.  Unfortunately, many people also just pop a squat and don't bother with the cathole at all.

Dogs will eat human feces, and then come home to lick your face. :s

It's always best to dig a common latrine when camping with a group. It's usually easy in a forest as the ground is often soft enough.

Dog waste poo bombs are pretty obvious. Purple or pink bags, with dog bones printed on them or some other cutsie type of decorating. Of course, people use grocery bags too, but for some reason, human waste stinks worse than dog waste, and if people are using kitchen trash bags, it may not be readily apparent that it is a poo bomb.

One reason I do not have a dog.   :-/

One simple rule I am sure all garbage pickers go by is ~~~  If it is wrapped and squishy, do not mess with it. 

When digging a latrine, follow a pattern of left to right every time.

 

[Oberneldon]

There are many nasty things in the trash that people put out. I have fought fires on landfills and there are so many things to hurt you. We considered all our equipment and clothing to be contaminated and it needed to be cleaned before putting it back in service.

Each state has different policies on how they manage waste. Some places have sorting but the ones I've seen are for removing recycling and did not open small bags.

Human waste is already in the trash. Adult diapers are quite common now and even the city parks expect you to toss your dog poo on the rubbish can. Medical waste from homes are in the mix as well.

If a state wants all the nasties out of the trash then they need to create an alternative for them to be collected as they do with other items. Until then all this crap is going to the landfill and that is the process if not digging a hole until otherwise notified.

In my travels this year the rest area just west of Yuma, AZ on I8 on way to El Centro has a note on the dumpster that says no human waste. I respected the signage. This is the only place in my 19,500 miles that I saw such a sign. This may very well be tied to the comment about sorting of trash in so cal.

Possibly some day there will be bins for glass, paper, plastic, human waste, cans.. Etc.