Organization
- November 21, 2008
Change 22 - Take Off The Trash
I have decided to take of the trash, daily, instead of every other week.
This is a strange one, I know. I live in the rural south, and we do not have trash pickup. Instead, I have to load our trash in the back of my old truck and haul it off to the dumpster. I hate doing this. No, hate doesn’t cut it. I loathe doing this. Taking off the trash is a miserable, disgusting exercise. As frugal as I am, I would gladly pay double, no triple, the going rate for trash pickup. Seriously, I hate dealing with trash - even trash that is packed securely in garbage bags.
Currently, I just put the trash in the back of my truck and make trips to the dumpster once or twice a month. Inevitably, a cat will get in the back of the truck, tear through the trash, and make a mess. So, from now on, I’m just going to go the dumpster every day. As much as I hate going to the dumpster - I hate cleaning up after the stupid cat even more.
I think I need to go throw up. Ugh.
(And, yes, we keep our trash in trash cans, but we have yet to find one that is completely animal proof. I’ve purchased a dozen or so trash cans over the years, but, inevitably, I lose their lids or a dog dumps them over. Plus, I have to admit, I have such a weak stomach, I can barely deal with putting the used trash can back in the back of my truck. Gross.)
4 Responses to “Change 22 - Take Off The Trash”
Have you considered recycling and composting? This was a “change” I decided to make last year to help the environment but in the end I was the one who really won big.
I invested in several heavy duty, stackable Rubbermaid bins with handles and devoted a small area of my garage to them. There is a separate bin for glass, clear plastic, milk jugs, steel cans, aluminum, and finally newspapers. It takes about two months to completely fill one bin and as long as I rinse everything and smash it down before putting them in there, it never smells.
For my biodegradable trash, I bought a heavy duty storage bin from Home Depot and drilled some holes in the bottom. I put it in a flat, grassless area of my yard. I picked up some sheep manure from a local rancher and began my own compost bin. I dump all the compostable waste from my kitchen in there and give it a good stir a couple times a week. Within a week or so, I have more compost for my garden and houseplants.
I’m AMAZED at how significantly these small changes reduced my trips to the dump AND I get nice chunk of change in my pocket each month from the recycling. Plus, the whole helping the earth thing!
By Amber on Nov 21, 2008
Turn it into a money making opp? Check w/ your neighbors - for a small fee, you will take theirs also?
Just an idea.
By di on Nov 21, 2008
I live in the rural South as well, and I was in a similar situation before. And I agree. Taking out the trash is an evil, hideous activity. Heave most certainly will have no trash to take out. ::grins::
By Shaun Connell on Dec 3, 2008