Overlanding is an increasingly popular trend that involves traveling independently to remote places. This type of exploration and adventure usually involves camping overnight along the way.
One of the greatest challenges overlanders face is how to do laundry while they’re gone. Here are our top tips for keeping dirty clothes clean while traveling!
In a Nutshell: Overlanders & Trash Storage
Proper trash storage and disposal are crucial for overlanders to minimize their impact on the environment and maintain the cleanliness of the areas they visit. Here are some tips on how to store and manage trash while overlanding:
- Separate trash and recyclables: Use separate bags or containers for trash and recyclables. This makes it easier to dispose of waste properly when you reach a disposal facility or recycling center.
- Heavy-duty trash bags: Use heavy-duty trash bags to contain waste and prevent leaks. Choose bags with drawstrings or other secure closures to minimize odors and keep pests away.
- Trasharoo or similar products: A popular option among overlanders is the Trasharoo, a heavy-duty, weather-resistant bag designed to attach to the outside of a spare tire or the rear of a vehicle. This keeps trash separated from living and food storage areas, reducing smells and the risk of attracting pests.
- Sealable containers: Use sealable plastic containers or ziplock bags to store waste that may produce strong odors, such as food scraps or used hygiene products. This helps to keep smells contained and discourages pests from being attracted to your trash.
- Minimize waste production: To reduce the amount of trash generated, try to minimize packaging and single-use items. Opt for reusable or eco-friendly alternatives, such as reusable water bottles, utensils, and shopping bags.
- Regularly dispose of trash: Whenever possible, dispose of your trash in designated waste receptacles or at disposal facilities. This helps to prevent trash from accumulating in your vehicle and reduces the risk of attracting pests.
- Secure your trash: When storing trash outside your vehicle or at a campsite, make sure it’s secured to prevent it from being scattered by wind or animals. Hang trash bags from a tree or use a bear-resistant container when camping in areas with wildlife.
- Practice Leave No Trace principles: Adhere to Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash and waste, leaving the areas you visit clean and undisturbed.
By properly storing and disposing of trash, overlanders can minimize their impact on the environment and maintain the cleanliness and beauty of the areas they explore.
(1) Pack In & Out
Overlanders understand the importance of packing out their camping gear, food, and personal items when they depart a campground. Doing this ensures they won’t find any trash left behind by others who weren’t as responsible or ethical as them. Likewise, overlanders should leave trails or natural areas cleaner than when they arrived – this idea is commonly known as “tread lightly”. Doing this helps keep our public lands open to everyone while preserving their incredible beauty!
Additionally, composting is an excellent way to help reduce landfill garbage. Not only is this beneficial for our planet and your wallet, but we hope this guide has taught you how to responsibly pack out your campsites and trails.
(2) Storing & Disposing
When camping, it’s essential to take good care of your belongings. Only pack items you actually use and won’t clog up storage space. For instance, swap out popular single-use products like disposable water bottles, utensils and bags with rechargeable alternatives like USB chargers or refillable gas bottles; this helps the environment by decreasing plastic waste that ends up in landfills, oceans and waterways.
(3) Recycling & Reusing
Recycling and reducing trash are easy with many options available to you. From taking an old coffee cup to a local shop that repurposes them for other uses to donating old toys to your favorite children’s charity, there are plenty of ways to help keep your trash and garbage in good shape!
Recycling is the practice of transforming used materials into new products, and is one of the best ways to keep trash out of landfills. Additionally, recycling saves energy, conserves natural resources like timber and water, reduces air pollution, and makes use of raw materials more efficiently.
Recycling is the most common way to go green. Most recycling centers are conveniently located near supermarkets and parking lots so residents can bring their recyclable items directly there and have them collected for disposal.
Recycling common materials includes aluminum and other metals, glass, newsprint and plastic. Newspaper can be turned into egg cartons, building insulation, office paper, kitty litter and construction paper.
In addition to recycling materials, Overlanders strive to reuse as much as possible. Items such as old sheets of paper, containers, lumber and broken appliances can be donated to friends or charities who are in need.
Another excellent way to reuse is finding ways to repair items you no longer require or want. This could range from replacing a broken appliance with one that works, to more complex undertakings like replacing an entire piece of furniture.
It is essential to understand the distinction between reusing and recycling. Reusing is a method that takes an item and extends its usefulness; however, it is not as environmentally friendly as recycling.
Reusing products is an effective way to reduce landfill waste, and can be done in various ways. At home, with items such as old clothes or bedding, or in business by recycling used materials to create new goods.
In a Nutshell: Overlanders & Garbage Disposal
Disposing of trash responsibly while camping is essential to minimize environmental impact and maintain the cleanliness of the areas visited. Overlanders can follow these guidelines to properly dispose of their trash when camping:
- Pack it out: The most important principle for disposing of trash while camping is to pack out everything you bring in. Be prepared to carry your trash with you until you find a designated waste receptacle or disposal facility. This includes all food waste, packaging, and used hygiene products.
- Use designated waste receptacles: When available, dispose of your trash in designated waste receptacles provided at campgrounds, parks, or other facilities. These are designed to handle waste properly and prevent contamination of the environment.
- Dispose of waste at disposal facilities: When leaving a camping area, look for nearby disposal facilities in towns or cities. These can include public waste receptacles, recycling centers, or landfill sites.
- Secure your trash: While camping, secure your trash to prevent it from being scattered by wind or animals. Hang trash bags from a tree or use a bear-resistant container when camping in areas with wildlife.
- Minimize waste production: Reduce the amount of trash generated by opting for reusable or eco-friendly alternatives, such as reusable water bottles, utensils, and shopping bags. Choose products with minimal packaging and consider repackaging items before your trip to reduce waste.
- Recycle: Separate recyclables from your trash and dispose of them in designated recycling bins when available. Recycling helps reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and minimizes the environmental impact of your trip.
- Leave No Trace principles: Adhere to Leave No Trace principles by packing out all trash and waste, leaving the areas you visit clean and undisturbed.
By following these guidelines, overlanders can dispose of their trash responsibly while camping and help protect the environment for future generations to enjoy.