Prepper solutions after SHTF: How to manage waste in a crisis
By dominguez // 2025-10-28
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  • The sudden halt of garbage services leads to rapid trash accumulation, disease spread and pest infestations, requiring immediate solutions like composting, safe burial and recycling.
  • Composting food scraps and herbivore manure is safe, while "humanure" (composting human feces) requires careful handling. Livestock (e.g., pigs) can consume kitchen scraps, reducing waste.
  • Decomposing bodies spread disease and require protective gear when handling. Temporary burial sites must be far from water sources; cremation may be necessary in extreme conditions.
  • Instead of burning trash, materials like paper, metal and plastic can be reused creatively (e.g., papercrete, forged tools, pyrolysis fuel). Early separation and planning are key.
  • Soap plants (e.g., yucca, clematis) and disinfectant herbs (e.g., lavender, thyme) provide off-grid hygiene solutions. Community coordination is essential in densely populated areas.
In a world where sanitation services are taken for granted, few people consider what happens when garbage trucks stop running. Whether due to economic collapse, natural disaster or societal breakdown, the sudden halt of waste collection would create an immediate public health crisis. Within days, trash would pile up, attracting pests and spreading disease. For those unprepared, the challenge of disposing of organic waste, human and animal feces, and even corpses could become overwhelming. Experts warn that without proper planning, communities could face outbreaks of cholera, dysentery and other sanitation-related illnesses. But with the right strategies—i.e., composting, safe burial practices and resourceful recycling—preppers can mitigate the worst effects of a prolonged waste management collapse.

The organic waste dilemma: From kitchen scraps to humanure

Organic waste, including food scraps and human and animal feces, presents the most immediate health risks if not managed properly. Composting is one of the most effective solutions, turning organic matter into nutrient-rich soil rather than letting it rot in the open. Raising livestock also comes in handy when disposing of organic waste. For instance, pigs can eat all your kitchen scraps, ensuring that nothing goes to waste. And the good part is that you will have a good pork supply for hard times. For people without livestock, composting remains a viable option—even for human waste, though with precautions. Herbivore manure (from cows, horses, sheep and chickens) is generally safe for composting, while carnivore and omnivore waste (from dogs, cats and pigs) carries higher pathogen risks. Human feces can also be composted—known as "humanure"—but requires careful handling to kill harmful bacteria. For those unwilling to venture into humanure, digging latrines remains a traditional, albeit labor-intensive, solution. Dry toilets, which separate urine from feces, can simplify the process while reducing odor and contamination risks.

The grim reality of corpse disposal

Few preppers want to dwell on the possibility of mass casualties in a disaster, yet corpse disposal is a critical public health concern. Decomposing bodies spread disease, attract scavengers and create psychological distress. Survival manuals warn that encountering deceased individuals following a significant catastrophe often entails witnessing distressing scenes of bodily damage, accompanied by unsettling fluids, odors and sounds that may linger in memory. Proper handling of corpses requires protective gear, such as particulate masks, latex gloves and, ideally, body bags, though heavy-duty garbage bags may serve as substitutes in times of emergencies. Temporary burial sites should be established at least 600 feet from water sources, accounting for soil conditions, water tables and climate. In frozen or rocky terrain, alternatives like mass cremation may be necessary—though this presents its own logistical and ethical challenges.

Non-organic waste: Recycling when there's no system

When recycling services vanish, individuals must find ways to repurpose materials rather than letting them accumulate. Burning trash is a common but risky solution, potentially causing wildfires or drawing unwanted attention. Instead, creative reuse offers long-term sustainability. Paper can be shredded and mixed with water and cement to create papercrete, a lightweight building material. Scrap metal can be forged into tools, roofing or bartered goods. Plastic, more difficult to repurpose, can be melted into bricks or—with specialized equipment—converted into fuel via pyrolysis. Preppers and homesteaders can reuse most of everything with a little imagination. The key is separating materials early and thinking ahead.

Sanitation without modern supplies

Without access to commercial cleaning products, natural alternatives become essential. Soap plants have been used for centuries by indigenous cultures and pioneers for cleaning and maintaining personal hygiene. Examples of soap plants include clematis and yucca (soaptree), which contain saponins for natural cleaning, and bracken fern rhizomes, which can be boiled into a sudsy cleanser—ideal for off-grid hygiene and reducing reliance on commercial products, notes BrightU.AI's Enoch. These plants support sustainable living and emergency preparedness. Growing natural disinfectants, such as lavender, thyme and citrus plants, can also supplement your hygiene efforts. In densely populated areas, sanitation must be a collective effort. While it's not your job to clean up after others, note that you'll have no choice but to relocate to a more hygienic environment if waste piles up unchecked. Coordinate with your neighbors to ensure everyone does their part in keeping your environment clean. Waste management is rarely glamorous, but in a prolonged crisis, it becomes a matter of survival. Individuals who prepare now—learning composting techniques, stockpiling sanitation supplies and planning for worst-case scenarios—will be far better equipped to handle the collapse of modern waste systems than those who don't. Watch the video below to learn more about water and waste management. This video is from the Dr. John Bergman D.C. channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include: Survivopedia.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
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