Living or camping in an RV means you probably have limited space for your trash, and getting rid of your trash can be a little tricky. Here, I’ll talk about different ways to reduce your RV trash, how to store it and where to get rid of it.

Reduce Your Trash

The first step to handling your trash while RVing is to reduce the amount of trash you produce. So, here are some ways you can set out on your trip ahead of the trash game.

Get rid of the original food packaging before you head out to your campsite. This is a great tip for full-timers who stock up at grocery stores on travel days. While you’re still in the store parking lot and you have trash receptacles available, remove food from the original packaging and consolidate it into your kitchen and pantry storage containers.

For example, remove any meat from its original packaging and portion it out into one meal serving sizes. Place each portion in a zip-lock bag and toss it in the freezer. The Seal-A-Meal is perfect for this.

Then, throw away the packaging while it’s convenient before you start your camping or boondocking trip.

Take Your Trash Out Every Day

Because a lot of RVs have limited space inside, especially if you have a van or truck camper, it’s a good idea to take your trash to a dumpster at the end of every day. This keeps your RV from smelling and will help keep pests away overnight.

Small-size trash bags are perfect for this. They will fill up fast so you’re not wasting larger trash bags each day. I like to use Glade 4 Gallon Scented Trash Bags. They smell good. This is a good solution if you’re in a campground with dumpsters available.

Under The Sink Trash Storage

One of the most common places to throw away your trash is in a small trash can under the kitchen sink. The size and shape of the trash can will depend on how much space you have available. There are often pipes or filters under the sink that limit your space.

In my RV, I have two small plastic trash cans that I initially purchased at the dollar store for the bathrooms in my house. It turns out that two of them fit perfectly under my sink. One is for trash, and the other for recycling.

Another solution for under the kitchen sink is a hanging trash can. It’s convenient to keep the door open while you’re cooking or preparing food, and some hanging trash containers come with a lid which will help keep odors under control. Keep in mind that some of the ganging trash cans are fairly small and will have to be emptied often.

There is a huge selection of small trash cans available, and the one you pick all depends on how your RV kitchen is set up. So, when you’re shopping for one, pay close attention to the measurements of the can compared to the size of your space. You want one that fits, but you don’t want one that’s so small it won’t hold a day’s worth of trash.

Storing Trash Outside Your RV

If you do a lot of outdoor cooking, spend a lot of time outdoors, or if you have a family with kids, storing your trash outside is a great solution. Here are a few things you should consider when keeping your trash outside.

What kind of animals are in the area? If you’re camping in bear country, leaving trash outside, unattended is not allowed and can be dangerous. Once a bear learns that it can get its food from campers, that bear will come back night after night for a free meal. This creates a dangerous situation for people and for the bear. Often the only way for authorities to solve the problem is to kill the bear.

Raccoons, possums, coyotes, and other mammals will not hesitate to rummage through your trash during the night and you’ll wake up to a mess of trash in your campsite the next morning. Raccoons are smart and can get into just about any container. A coyote will return each night looking for another free meal.

Birds, like crows or blackbirds, can also be a problem. Even leaving your trash outside unattended for a few hours can result in a messy campsite.

So, if you use an outdoor trash can, like a collapsible one, use one that has a lid to keep birds out during the day. Also, be sure to take your trash to the dumpster at the end of each day. The bottom line is; don’t leave your trash outside overnight.

Recycling Your Trash

Some RV parks and campgrounds provide separate dumpsters for recyclable materials like glass, plastic, and paper products. If this is the case, you could designate one small trash can in your RV for recyclables.

In my case, I like to keep two small trash cans under the sink; one for trash, and one for recycling. I’ve gotten in the habit of emptying them each day.

Keep in mind that plastic bags, like grocery bags, can not go in the recycle bin. They clog up the sorters and grinders at the recycling center. So, try to use a paper bag for your recyclables, or simply dump it out directly into the dumpster.

Currently, I camp mostly on the west coast, and California is pretty good at having recycling bins available. But, I was surprised to see how many campgrounds, cities, or counties do not have a recycling program. If this is the case, do your best to reduce the number of single-use containers that you buy.

• Buy milk and fruit juices in paper cartons rather than plastic.
• If you drink beer or soda, buy it in cans rather than bottles. They can be crushed and saved to recycle later.
• Buy in bulk so you get more products in a single container.
• Don’t drink bottled water. Use filtered water instead.

Another tip; if a campground or town doesn’t have dumpsters or bins for recycling, do a Google search for recycling centers for the area you’re in. Often there will be a recycling center nearby where you can take your cans and plastics. Who knows, you may even get some cash for it.

Trash Solutions While Boondocking

If you’re out boondocking in an area that has no trash cans available, you’ll have to be a little more strategic with your trash, especially if you’re boondocking for a long time, like 14 days.

If you have a vehicle available and you’re able to easily drive into town, you can take your trash with you and dispose of it. Keep in mind that some trash dumpsters might be locked and unavailable. So, consider splitting up your trash into smaller bags so they will fit into smaller trash cans like in front of a store, fast food restaurant, or gas station.

If you’re not able to go into town every few days when you’re boondocking, then practice the options discussed earlier in this post. Reduce the amount of trash you produce. Hang your trash bags from a tree, or on your RV ladder out of reach of small animals. If you have the space, store your trash in the basement of your rig, so animals can’t get to it until you’re able to throw it away.

Burning Your Trash

A lot of people like to burn their trash, especially when boondocking. This is a viable solution, but there are a few things you should consider.

• Never burn plastic. It releases toxins into the air and into the soil. It also doesn’t completely burn down.
• Don’t try to burn cans. They won’t burn down completely and you’ll be leaving trash behind.
• If you burn paper plates and cups, buy natural products. Don’t buy products that are coated, or with printed ink.
• Never burn styrofoam. It is plastic, contains toxins, and won’t burn completely down.
• Make sure all your trash burns completely down to ash.

Also, before you burn, check local ordinances. Many western states during the late summer months have a ban on all campfires due to the high risk of fire hazards. You do not want to be the one responsible for setting off a destructive wildfire.

Can I Throw Away Used Propane Canisters?

A lot of smaller grills and camp stoves use small 16oz. propane canisters. If you do a lot of outdoor cooking, empty canisters can start to pile up. So, can you throw them away with the rest of your trash?

Unfortunately, you can not throw them in the dumpster; they are considered Household Hazardous Waste (HHW). Even an empty canister will still have a small amount of propane under pressure. They could explode if they are crushed.

Check with the ranger in your campground to see if they collect them and dispose of them properly. If not, you will have to find a nearby hazardous waste disposal center and take them there. Do a Google search for hazardous waste disposal near you to find a disposal site.

While it is possible to refill them from a larger propane tank with an adaptor, they are not designed to be refilled, and transporting refilled canisters violates DOT laws.

A safe and legal solution exists in a tank called Flame King. They are designed to be refilled and are legal to transport. The kit, available on Amazon, comes with a stand for your large LP tank, an adapter, and a 16oz. canister.

Wrap Up

The biggest takeaways here are to reduce the amount of trash you produce, and never pass up an opportunity to throw away the trash you have on board. Remember to never leave trash behind at your campsite, and always pack it out.