Why Are You Still Throwing THIS Away?

You might not realize it, but what you throw away in your trash can can is probably full of survival gear.

Everyday items we throw away—plastic bottles, cardboard, old clothes, even food scraps—can become valuable tools when things go south. In a post-collapse world, the ability to repurpose what others see as waste will set you apart. Not only can these items help you survive, they can also be used to create warmth, fuel, security, and even deterrents to keep looters at bay.

Let’s look at 10 common “throwaways” and exactly how they can serve you in a survival situation.

Plastic Bottles

Plastic bottles are one of the most versatile and underappreciated survival tools. Lightweight, durable, and easy to stash, they can serve a surprising number of purposes when you’re off-grid or living in a survival situation.

What to do with them:

Build DIY water filters using gravel, sand, and charcoal
Create solar stills for distillation to make undrinkable water safe
Cut into funnels, scoops, or irrigation drip systems
Use for seed starting or waterproof storage for matches, rice, or first-aid kits
Make lanterns by diffusing light with water-filled bottles and flashlights

If you want a more advanced water filtration system, you can turn to a DIY water generator such as The Water Freedom System. It’s based on declassified U.S. Army blueprints and has proven its efficiency on battlefields in some of the world’s driest deserts.

The good news is that you can assemble such a system in just a few hours, using simple components. Many of them might already be lying around your household and will be listed further in this article. Check out the plans here and get your own atmospheric water generator, freeing yourself from dependence on the public grid or the supermarket.

Aluminum Cans

Aluminum cans aren’t just recyclable—they’re a prepper’s best friend. Lightweight and malleable, they can be reshaped and reused in dozens of practical ways.

What to do with them:

Build mini rocket stoves or alcohol burners for cooking without electricity
Boil water or cook food in a pinch
Use shiny surfaces to reflect light or signal for help
Cut into fishhooks, wind chimes for perimeter alerts, or small cutting tools
Make spoon or utensil sets for bug-out bags

Food Scraps

In a world where every calorie counts, food scraps are far from garbage. Bones, peels, fats, and even used coffee grounds all have second lives.

What to do with them:

Boil bones for nutrient-rich broth that stretches food supplies
Render fat into tallow or lard for cooking, waterproofing, or making candles
Regrow vegetables like green onions, garlic, potatoes, and lettuce on a windowsill
Dry citrus peels for bug-repelling fire starters or DIY cleaning solutions
Compost for garden soil enrichment if you’re building long-term food security

Broken Electronics

Even if an electronic device stops working, it’s not worthless. Inside those plastic shells are valuable components that can be repurposed or salvaged for energy, security, or communication.

What to do with them:

Salvage copper wires for snare traps or makeshift antennas
Repurpose motors into hand-crank generators to power small devices
Build perimeter alarms using buzzers and sensors
Use battery cells for emergency lighting or to revive other devices temporarily
Strip resistors, switches, and circuits for DIY off-grid power systems

Many of the components from broken electronics can be reused to build communication systems that will still work even after an EMP. This is a subject that should be of utmost interest to you as well, since it could make the difference between finding your family or not—and ultimately, between life and death.

I learned how to set up a post-EMP communication system that works extremely well (I’ve already tested it), thanks to the detailed information and photos provided in A Navy SEAL’s Bug-In Guide. I highly recommend you check out this link and see what it involves.

Cardboard

Cardboard is easy to overlook, but it’s incredibly useful for both shelter and gardening. It insulates, burns well, and can be transformed into makeshift tools or surfaces.

What to do with it:

Insulate windows, walls, and floors in a makeshift shelter
Tear for tinder or soak in wax to make long-burning fire bricks
Mulch garden beds to suppress weeds and retain moisture
Use for blackout window coverings to avoid light leaks at night
Create disposable work surfaces or templates for building projects

Used Cooking Oil

Used oil may be smelly and messy, but it’s a resource worth holding onto. It’s flammable, useful for cooking, and can even be traded if fuel becomes scarce.

What to do with it:

Make oil lamps by pouring into jars with homemade wicks
Soak cloth or cardboard in it to create long-burning torches or fire starters
Use as fuel in modified diesel engines or homemade stoves
Trade with others for goods or services
Store in labeled, sealed containers to avoid confusion and contamination

If you’re like me and cook often, your household probably generates large amounts of used cooking oil. Today, recycling this product is generally encouraged, but I chose instead to turn to Amish techniques for storing and reusing oil.

Many of these methods are described above, while others can be found in detail in The Amish Ways Book. The Amish are true experts in conserving and maximizing resources. I’ve learned a great deal from them that has helped me save money. I wholeheartedly recommend getting this book (it’s available in physical format, of course) and keeping it close at hand!

Dryer Lint

What looks like a handful of fluff is actually an excellent fire starter. Dryer lint ignites quickly and can keep a flame going long enough to start larger tinder.

What to do with it:

Mix with wax or petroleum jelly and pack into straws or egg cartons for homemade fire starters
Use in small bundles for kindling in emergency stoves or campfires
Stuff into gloves or boots for emergency insulation
Add to bug-out kits or glove compartments for a lightweight ignition source

Glass Jars

Glass jars are more than kitchen storage—they’re reusable, sealable, and sterilizable. They can handle food, water, and even tools when stored properly.

What to do with them:

Store dry goods like rice, beans, flour, salt, or sugar long-term
Preserve food via water bath canning, pickling, or fermenting (like the Amish – learn more tips here)
Create oil lamps using a wick and cooking oil
Use as solar still collection vessels or to trap small pests
Collect rainwater or measure liquids

Old Clothing

When fabric wears out, don’t toss it—repurpose it. Clothing can be deconstructed and rebuilt into all kinds of tools and comfort items.

What to do with it:

Tear into strips for cordage, emergency bandages, or sling materials
Use as insulation by stuffing into cracks or layering for warmth
Craft homemade pillows, quilts, or sleeping pads
Filter coarse debris out of water (not a substitute for purification!)
Create bags, pouches, or patch existing garments

It’s very important to know how to use old clothes even in bugging out situations. For example, in The Wilderness Long-Term Survival Guide, Dr. Nicole Apelian explains how to make cordage in different ways, including by using the clothes you’re wearing.

It’s essential to understand these skills, as well as those related to insulation and creating bags and pouches. They could save your life in ways you might never expect—but you can learn them all right here.

Trash as Camouflage

Believe it or not, strategic use of trash can become a home defense system. Making your property look undesirable may keep you off the radar of desperate people.

What to do with it:

Scatter broken furniture, empty boxes, or rusted tools in plain view
Place old clothes and household junk to give the illusion of abandonment
Black out windows with dirty cardboard or plastic
Avoid cleaning up the yard to deter would-be looters
Use junk cars or appliances as barriers or visual obstacles

Final Thoughts

The next time you’re tempted to toss something, ask yourself: could this help me survive?

The truth is, trash becomes treasure with the right mindset. Practice now, learn the uses, and when the time comes, you’ll be the one who sees solutions where others only see waste.

Survival isn’t just about what you have—it’s about what you can make from what you already have lying around.

If you don’t have a good place to store your reusable materials, you can always build your own root cellar. Don’t worry—it’s not complicated at all. All you need is a few free hours, some materials that cost less than a flat-screen TV, and this brilliant plan called “The Easy Cellar.” It’s nuclear-proof and EMP-proof!