Emergency Garbage and Trash Disposal

Garbage is generally defined as kitchen waste. It is usually wet or was wet. Garbage sours and decomposes. It must be properly stored and handled if odor and insect problems are to be prevented.

Feed food garbage to animals or compost what can be put in a compost pile. Remaining garbage should be wrapped in several thicknesses of newspaper before putting it into your garbage/trash containers. The paper will absorb some of the remaining moisture and make possible longer storage without unpleasant odors. A tight-fitting lid on the garbage/trash can is important to keep odors in and flies and other insects out.

If necessary, garbage can be buried in the same way as, but separate from, human waste.

Trash is anything that isn’t garbage. This would include paper, plastic, leaves, scrap wood, broken furniture, metal items, and other non-kitchen rubbish. Trash should be kept at a minimum and placed in a large container, separate from garbage. It can be burned, recycled, or kept until picked up by garbage services. When burning trash, avoid windy conditions and burn trash in an enclosed structure such as a chimenea or outdoor fireplace.