30 Uses For Trash Bags | Bug Out Bag Essentials

Knowing these uses for trash bags will make you save it a special place in your BOB, so check them all out now to know what these are!

RELATED: 10 Survival Uses For A Contractor’s Trash Bag

Survival Uses For Trash Bags You Should Know By Now!

Practical and Survival Uses for Trash Bags

Deciding how to spend available funds in a preparedness budget, especially for a bug out bag is not an easy task. Multi-use items and under $5 survival items are always a favorite of wallet-conscious preppers.

Trash bags, even the brand-name sturdy ones definitely fall within the “reasonably priced” category, but when we look past the obvious uses for plastic bags, they become an even more advantageous contribution to our preps.

These hacks and uses for trash bags will fix it as one of your top essentials in an ultimate bug out bag!

1. Use as a Poncho

Simply cut or carefully tear a hold for the head and even the arms, and one poncho is coming right up!

2. Emergency Trash Bag Shelter

Packing a tent or tarp for an emergency shelter is, of course, optimal–but such items take up a lot of space and are heavier as well. Even a one-person tent will not fit in a child's backpack, but trash bags and some duct tape surely will.

You can make a garbage bag lean-to with some sticks for use in the desert or in any open and shadeless area.

3. Keeps Your Feet and Shoes Dry with Garbage Bag Shoes

Trash bags are also useful in keeping your shoes and feet dry. Open a trash bag, step inside and tie or secure with duct tape and keep rain and snow at bay.

Storing several trash bags for emergency booties and a poncho inside a get home bag or bug out bag takes up very little space and adds virtually no weight to the pack.

4. Reusable Water-Proof Storage Bags

Keep your spare socks, change of clothes, and blankets dry with trash bags. The trash bags used to store these items can be turned into a poncho, bootie, or emergency shelter in mere minutes.

5. Septic Disposal Containers

During either a short or long-term disaster, trash bags can be used to safely store waste when commodes are not working. The bags work equally well for sharps and bloody cloth or bandages used to treat wounded.

Preventing the spread of disease becomes even more important during a TEOTWAWKI scenario.

6. Makeshift Hats

Keep the rain off or your head with a makeshift trash bag hat. Simply wrap the trash bag over your head like you would a bandana.

7. Fly Screen/Bug Repellant

Make a fly screen for the front of your shelter with a trash bag — or two. Cut the trash bag into a sheet type form and then cut slits within a few inches of the top of the bag and you have a protective screen to keep the bugs away.

8. Ground Cover

Trash bags also make a great ground cover. If you are using a tarp, or another trash bag for shelter, placing another plastic bag onto the ground will prevent dampness from impacting your clothing.

The trash bag also offers another layer between you at bugs which will come out of the ground seeking food during the evening and early morning hours.

9. Thermal Underwear

Although not exactly soft, trash bags can make great thermal underwear under your clothing. Tape or tie piece of the bag around your legs, arms, and stomach beneath your clothing to prevent body heat from escaping quite so easily.

10. Container for Food Preparation

Sure, they will be a bit flimsy and perhaps messy, but you can use trash bags to mix food or drink ingredients. Only avoid using sharp objects in this business because you know what happens next.

11. Solar Water Still Accessory

You can also use trash bags as part of solar water still. A trash bag, a container, and greeneries will give you water in an area where there is none.

12. Trash Bag Life Jacket

Although US Coast Guard does not approve of it, there are reports of trash bags as effective life jackets — it is at least worth a shot during an emergency.

Tie the ends of the trash bag together and blow air into it to inflate, then secure the open ends together as well. Tape or tie the back into a life jacket shape and use it to help keep your, your pets, or your get home bag afloat.

13. Food Storage and Transport

You can also use trash bags to store and transport food. When you're caught in a flood or crossing a body of water, you can keep your food dry and afloat with trash bags.

14. Pillow

Give your head a somewhat soft place to rest during an overnight hike home by inflating trash bags and using them as a pillow.

Josh is a great friend letting me use one of his trash bags as a pillow. Living lavishly pic.twitter.com/VcdH9qwruJ

— David Voskuhl (@davidvoskuhl1) February 23, 2017

It isn't much but a little comfort in a survival situation is a lot.

RELATED: Make A DIY Raft Out Of Trash Bags

15. Water Container

Trash bags also make great emergency water container. Trash bags will hold a decent amount of weight but will need to be carried carefully so the plastic does not tear and the water spill out onto the ground.

16. Water-Proof Your Sleeping Bag with Trash Bags

Keep your sleeping bag and yourself dry and a little warmer by using trash bags as cover. To stay extra dry, slip into a sleeping bag like you would a potato sack for a race before getting into the sleeping bag as well.

17. Emergency Blanket Substitute

I want fuzzy socks, Thai food, and a warm blanket now. Instead I'm out here rocking this trash bag in soaked socks pic.twitter.com/a5UvLIIC4j

— Chelsea Pereira (@ChelseaPereira_) February 23, 2015

Mylar emergency blankets are inexpensive, lightweight, and take up little space, but trash bags make a good temporary substitute.

18. Sun Shade

Hook trash bags to branches, or taped into place, to make a temporary sun shade. After taking the hiking break, carefully fold the trash bag into a small square so it can be used again during the next break period.

19. Pressure Bandage for First Aid

Make a pressure bandage or a triangle bandage with trash bags. The trash bags can also simply be used to cover a traditional bandage to help protect the wound from exposure to dirt or the bandage from exposure to the rain.

20. Splinter Support for First Aid

Tie a splint with a trash bag, double the bag, or tape two together to make a sturdier splint.

21. Catch Basin for Water

In addition to being used as a makeshift water carrier, trash bags can also be used as a catch basin for water. Tie the bag to something mildly sturdy in an area exposed to the sky, or line a bucket or similar item with the bag, and capture enough water to keep yourself hydrated.

22. Patch

Trash bags can also be used as patching for leads in other food and water containers. The plastic bags can be taped to cover worn spots or tears in a bug out or get home bags too.

23. S.O.S. Signs

Use trash bags to signal help. Tie or secure a white trash bag to a rock in a visible spot to let others know where you are. It is always a good idea to carry a permanent marker and spray paint to write messages.

24. Disposable Plates

You can use trash bags to eat from. Find the most smooth and flat rock in the near vicinity and place a piece of the trash bag onto the rock for a clean eating surface.

25. Trail Markers

Use trash bags to tie onto trees for trail markers. This is one way to reuse trash bags which you have previously used for food storage, sleeping bag, and some of the items mentioned here.

26. Windsock

Make windsocks with trash bags. It could serve a couple of emergency functions other than telling the wind direction.

You can also use it as an S.O.S. sign or as hazard markers.

27. First Aid Liter

If an injured person, pet, or heavy gear needs to be moved, make a liter and line it with several trash bags.

28. Hazard Markers

Make a banner with trash bags to leave warning notes for others or to mark unsafe buildings. Tape, string, and marking materials will also be required.

29. Hot Shower

Fill trash bags up with water, set it in the sun for a while and then hang it from a sturdy branch to use for a shower. Heated water is also useful for cleaning wounds.

30. Temporary Backpack

Make a temporary backpack with trash bags so the non-prepared person you come across during your trek home can help you carry the load.

Remember, the person could run off with your stuff, but if they're scared and unaware and you appear full of knowledge, the person will likely stick to you like glue.

This video from History will show you more uses for trash bags:

Trash bags are one of the most economical preppers' “to-do” list finds and literally, dozens of potential disaster uses. In addition to being easy on the budget, trash bags are lightweight yet durable and take up very little space in a bug-out bag, INCH bag, and get-home bag.

Don't forget to include trash bags in your ultimate bug out bag checklist for both survival and emergency situations!

Do have any other practical or survival uses for rash bags in mind? Share your insights in the comments section below! 

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• Aluminum Foil Hacks | 7 Awesome Uses For The Outdoors

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**Disclaimer: The contents of this article are for informational purposes only. Please read our full disclaimer.**

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on June 29, 2014, and has been updated for quality and relevancy.