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Edit: June 7, 2016 — I would like to point out that since the time this was originally posted, we have become strongly opposed to the use of single-serving plastic bottles. We try very hard to never purchase them.

One of our friends commented after reading a previous blog post that he hadn’t considered how many things are different when you live aboard a boat (the post he read concerned water conservation). Here is another thing that we used to take for granted: garbage. When you live in a house getting rid of the trash is typically no more challenging than dragging some big bags to the curb every week or so. For those who are actively recycling (isn’t everyone?) there is often some sorting that goes on prior to this step, but the end result is the same. Additionally, with houses being as big as they are, finding a place to store the trash until pickup day usually isn’t too big of a deal. You just find some out-of-the place where the smell of week-old refuse isn’t going to be too troubling.

What to do when on a boat? Because we have not yet ventured out for more than a few days at a time, this hasn’t become a huge deal for us. I do remember though that when we were on our 5-day liveaboard course we had to be aware of the space that the trash took up. It was there that I learned this “little” trick for making recyclable water bottles smaller until we can get them back to shore in their proper place.

Take an ordinary bottle…

Remove the cap…

Crush the bottle…

Place the cap back on and it stays crushed up, all nice and compact!

Small things like this amuse me. Can you imagine the sweet talking that was required to get Rebecca to pose for these pics? 🙂

10 Comments

  1. These guys must have run out of things to write about… now they’re talking about how to crush a water bottle. 😉

  2. Enjoy the blog. I think the true “tip” is to eliminate the garbage altogether. Single use plastics are a true problem in our world. Make the most of conservation and find another alternative. Think about all the space you’ll save without all those cases of water bottles aboard!

  3. http://www.coopers.com.au/homebrew/

    Haven’t tried to make any yet, but I’ve sampled my fair share. You will not be disappointed.

    • I was thinking you might suggest that we switch to Rum 🙂

    • Loving the blog, still catching up on the old posts, and had to respond to this even though I know it’s old. I’ve been an avid homebrewer in the past, less active currently, but I don’t know how this would work out on a boat. You’d still have lots of containers to dispose of or save for re-use (most use glass bottles, though plastic is also common), or a keg & CO2 tank to carry around. If someone has a solution, I’d love to know about it. I think the rum idea is probably best.

      • I know one of our friends (currently in Grenada) brews alcohol on his boat. I think it’s hard liquor though, not beer.

  4. All true boatie chics use the Diva Cup… have your wife google it.

  5. Sounds like you’re getting a taste of Japanese living.

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