Motorhomimg Life -A survey of the mundane (2) - Refuse/recycling storage.

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Good Morning!

We are on our second trip out, this time on our own as opposed to with experienced travellers on our first one.
We are still making a list of things to get and getting accustomed to this much slower way of life.
Todays big question relates to the storage of waste and recycling whilst on site. How do you do it? Our van had a pretty small door mounted bin which we didn’t like much so took it off. We have a small flip top bin which can be moved around to suit for small bits of rubbish. However it seems something more substantial is required and probably needs to be outside. Are collapsible bins the thing? ( everything seems to have a collapsible option)
Not too keen on loose bin bags hanging on wing mirrors! What about seperate recycling items? Two bins?
Please let us know how you do it!

Phil in Northampton
 
We got lucky and gained a set of 3 Ducato recycling canvas type bags from their stand at the NEC quite a few years ago, they fold flat and velcro together. They have been well used and are still in relatively good nick.

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We used to use a collapsible domestic black bag sized bin which we put outside, however they get attacked by sea gulls, magpies and wild pigs (in france), so we then fitted a small door bin and just use small white bin liners and bin daily (otherwise you could also attract ants). For recycling we use a small tight lidded plastic box which sits on our duck board in the shower, and take that to the recycling regularly when it fills (we used to leave it outside but it fills with ants quickly!!)
 
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Recycling is one of my pet hates. Here in Breckland we have green wheelie bins for landfill and black ones for recycling: assume nothing.

What we can recycle is different to our neighbours in other Norfolk districts. In Suffolk it’s different again. Read the information and hope you get it sorted. Some places want everything in bags in one place; others want everything separately. There are rumours about National schemes but don’t hold your breath.

I work on the basis of recycling obvious things, although not everyone recycles glassware at campsites. If I inadvertently don’t do as much as at home or put something in the wrong place then I believe that I’m not going to destroy the earth.

Gordon
 
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We got lucky and gained a set of 3 Ducato recycling canvas type bags from their stand at the NEC quite a few years ago, they fold flat and velcro together. They have been well used and are still in relatively good nick.
So it was you who nicked them! :LOL:
 
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Where do the street or supermarket bin's get taken too?
I suspect all non recycle rubbish bin's are taken to a sortng plant send through the automatic processing plant.
Not directly to landfill.
I'm also convinced that most anything except metal, glass and clean paper is simply sent to a furnace and burnt, simply as fuel the local heating plants.
The small amount of waste we create on our tours tend to be placed in various standard rubbish bins unless there are recycling bins nearby.

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We put up 3 coat hooks near the door on which we hang a recycled plastic bag for general waste and another for recycling. We empty the recycling one as and when we can and reuse the bag (maybe a canvas bag would look better) and dispose of the general waste one when we can. We have loads left from shopping deliveries during covid.
3rd hook is for coats or dogs towel.
 
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We stuck two hooks on what is the side of the fridge (essentially a blank cupboard side) where we hand a single use carrier (we also have loads, we have saved carriers for years!) for general waste. Recycling gets put to one side and taken to the bins when we wash up. I really appreciate those sites that spell out how there recycling bins work. Then take the general bin when full.
 
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We have a small 10l waste bin then all else goes in a folding plastic basket that we bought from Lidl, sort of storage box type of thing.

The main challenge we find is the limited and unclear recycling points at most sites or villages, often only 3-4 categories.
 
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Even though we had a drawer with 3 very small bins I wanted that space for an other purpose so we now use a sturdy supermarket better than the bag for life bags for the recycling and a 25l small waste bag that hangs near the door for non recycling refuse.

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We use the door bin for waste and line with one use supermarket bags. Throw the bag and contents in a bin when full and start again. We have a canvas bag for recycling which hangs on the grab rail by the door. Emptied at every opportunity.
 
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What we can recycle is different to our neighbours in other Norfolk districts. In Suffolk it’s different again.
Same in devon, north south,mid or east .shambles of a system
I suspect all non recycle rubbish bin's are taken to a sortng plant send through the automatic processing plant.
Not directly to landfill.
Yes they are here In spain where I live
I'm also convinced that most anything except metal, glass and clean paper is simply sent to a furnace and burnt, simply as fuel the local heating plants.
& no not here where I live after conveyered sorting anything unrecyclable goes in land fill .& the site is 16km from civilisation so can't be used to heat anything.


When travelling I throw the rubbish out an any opportunity. If there are recycling bins I always use them.
 
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I use a Hinza bag which is wipe clean, can carry up to 15 kilos in the large version, can be used as a shopping bag at markets etc and I also have another I use for washing up. They have many uses, they stay upright and I move it around the van but it mainly lives in the shower until we use it.
 
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We have a built in bin with a lid in a drawer for the general waste. The recycling which takes up more space but is inoffensive gets lobbed in a big rectangular bucket kept out of site on the floor behind the rotated drives seat. Works for us.
 
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We always take our bins with us and bring our waste home.
It becomes a pain for the French tolls as it’s another axle plus it smells a bit but the smells are behind us.
48CA3527-CA5E-425F-8E41-12E50DDEF163.jpeg
 
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We have two bins similar to this one:


That's just the first ad I can across when looking for a link so there will be others that are bigger / smaller / cheaper.

We use one for recycling and one for general rubbish and they clip on the side of out bench seat.

I empty as needed and before we leave a site. If there is no rubbish disposal all rubbish is brought home.

We do find that different areas recycle different things. At home all recycling goes into a blue top bin - no segregation except for glass (which is not collected). Other places require you to segregate metal, plastic and / or paper.

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We have a built in bin with a lid in a drawer for the general waste. The recycling which takes up more space but is inoffensive gets lobbed in a big rectangular bucket kept out of site on the floor behind the rotated drives seat. Works for us.
I removed the bin from the bottom right drawer in ours (in dealer's photo below) as it was such a waste of space, it was easy to do and I just put a piece of board over the hole in the bottom of the drawer, much better use of space, first photo after I'd just removed the bin etc, second one once I'd put my goodies in it!

2020-Carthago-C-Compactline-Motorhome-Kitchen-Storage.jpg


Drawer with bin removed.jpg
drawer - bottom right.jpg


Now our bin is the stool/step with a lift up lid that I use to get up/down off the rear bed - I cut the bottom out of the small storage area in the top of the stool/step and plopped the bin from the drawer in it, works a treat. I did clean the lid up afterwards, it had the front of the lid stuck down with gaffer tape when we had our Romy as she could open the ruddy thing to get at the dog treats we used to store in there!

stool.jpg
 
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What is annoying is what is recycled in one area is not recycled in another, and that they change the bin colours from area to area.

In London we have a very simple system.
Green bin for organics (Grass cuttings, wood, waste food)
Blue bin for all recyclables (Plastics, metals, glass, paper/cardboard
Black for non-recyclables (plastic film, polystyrene, greasy paper, paint, mineral oils, etc)

However everywhere else has a different system and different colours.

I can sort of understand Cornwall Councils, with loads of empty quarries, saying its cheaper to simply dump everything that pay for recycling, but in this day and age they should be forced to recycle, and if you don't have the facility to do so, then I'm sure the next county along will be happy to take your rubbish for you (for a fee per tonne of course)

We are currently in Scotland, most of the sites have zero recycling so far, and those that do are only glass.
Really not setting a good example for the next generation.

Personally I'd be 100% in favour of a national system (based on the London system)
 
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Good Morning!

We are on our second trip out, this time on our own as opposed to with experienced travellers on our first one.
We are still making a list of things to get and getting accustomed to this much slower way of life.
Todays big question relates to the storage of waste and recycling whilst on site. How do you do it? Our van had a pretty small door mounted bin which we didn’t like much so took it off. We have a small flip top bin which can be moved around to suit for small bits of rubbish. However it seems something more substantial is required and probably needs to be outside. Are collapsible bins the thing? ( everything seems to have a collapsible option)
Not too keen on loose bin bags hanging on wing mirrors! What about seperate recycling items? Two bins?
Please let us know how you do it!

Phil in Northampton
I use a mini dustbin style (with mini dustbin top) which you can buy from Range.
 
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I usually look for the vans with the recycling bind underneath and just dump mine there 😇🙄😀
 
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Waste goes in the door bin. Recylcing goes in one of those wine caddy things from Waitrose made of waterproof fabric. Great for cans, jars, bottles and you can stuff folded up cardboard down the sides. Folds up when not in use.
 
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