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shadow · 30-08-2007, 21:05

Hi all, not sure if this is the right category or not, but I was curious what people do with all of their rubbish if they are on long passages?? Do people have a garbage compactor, remove the majority of the packaging prior to leaving and place them in tupperware type containers?? And how about just plain rubbish with cans, bottles, food scraps, etc..

I was just curious since I've never been out long enough to even run into that situation.. Thanks for everyone's time.. Cheers.

Lynx · 31-08-2007, 00:18

Just get some small trash bags and some large lawn bags and store outside or hang on the lifelines.

Harriet · 31-08-2007, 03:51

Offshore, food scraps go overboard. We use a Soda Club machine to make soda, so we don't have to deal with soda cans or bottles. If we drank beer, we would crush the cans underfoot to minimize the trash. We always remove packaging, esp. cardboard, before we leave to avoid bug problems. Everything else goes into a good garbage bag(s), and usually gets stored in the dinghy (which is up on davits) until we reach an appropriate disposal site.

shadow · 31-08-2007, 05:44

Thanks for everyone's input!! I was always curious how that was managed. I was never away long enough to have to contend with such matters. I would love to hear more and how other people deal with it. Cheers

Auspicious · 31-08-2007, 05:50

I minimize packing material on board. Lock-n-Lock containers are wonderful for storing all kinds of things.

If you had room for packing material when it is full, you have room for it empty. Some care and thought will allow you to separate "clean" waste that can be stowed easily and "messy" stuff that has to be bagged and stored on deck as the bags fill.

For daysails and short hops, "clean" waste (empty food bags mostly) are folded and stowed in the back of a food locker -- they are useful in helping keep things from rattling. "Messy" waste (food scraps, flattened food cans) goes in a trash bag in the galley; full bags are tied down on the aft deck. I don't have a good plan for recycling yet -- I crush as much as possible and keep in a separate bag. The bag is usually in the shower, but gets moved around to keep it out of the way.

More than 12 nm offshore, everything except plastics and motor oil goes over the side (tops and bottoms off food cans, extra holes punched in drink cans).

I like the soda club idea.

cjbeals · 04-09-2007, 07:11

They make a "can crusher" for food tins and drink cans, smashes 'em down to a disk. Plastic bottles can be cut into strips or heated in water, capped, then plunged into cold water to collapse them. Paper labels, cardboard boxes are removed and contents and Sharpied on can or bag.

44'cruisingcat · 04-09-2007, 20:38

Our boat has lockers well astern that are purpose designed for garbage storage. We will just compact our rubbish as much as we can and keep it in garbags until we can dispose of it ashore.

shadow · 04-09-2007, 20:44

Thanks again for everyone's input!! Now I know.. I was always curious about it.. Does anyone have trash compactors or even garbage disposals in their galley sinks, or is that just a waste of money, space and power?? Cheers!!

boris · 05-09-2007, 01:55

it always surprises me how much rubbish you end up with after only a week or so

Auspicious · 05-09-2007, 08:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadow

Does anyone have trash compactors or even garbage disposals in their galley sinks, or is that just a waste of money, space and power??

I have seen trash compactors on boats 55 feet long and bigger. I'm not sure where I would put one on my 40 without giving up something I want more. <grin>

I have thought about putting a macerator in one of my sink drains as a garbage disposal (watch the Marpol and local regulations for legality inshore), but I think I wouldn't be able to fit my pasta pot under the sink anymore if I did.