Dispose of camp waste properly


Posted BY Ian under camping-advice

In my last article, Camp Cleanliness: the crux of the matter, I said that the approved methods for disposing of waste from 75 years ago are no longer acceptable. I also said I would deal with the modern thinking later. Here you are ...

Leave no trace

The modern principle for all responsible camping stems from the one phrase: Leave no trace

The easiest way to achieve this is to take all waste items back out with you, and the latest buzz phrase from across the Atlantic is: Pack it in, pack it out

Dealing with human waste

In some US campsites that pretty much sums up the rules. Even toilet waste must be collected and removed. More generally though, in wilderness camping (but not fragile eco-system camping) burying toilet waste is seen as acceptable.

To bury waste in an acceptable manner you only need follow some simple guidelines:

  • bury waste at least 20cm deep. You aren't going to manage that without taking some kind of digging implement. In groups I have travelled with this has always been known as the Sh!t Shovel. Some campers mistake that term for thinking it is a dirty item to carry. That should never be the case. It is for digging the hole not for moving the human waste around.
  • try to dig your hole in soil rather than sand. It is then likely to be broken down by worms and bacteria more quickly.
  • do not dig the hole near a trail or near any water source. The recommended distance is 60m. Since you probably want some privacy when at toilet this distance is not too onerous.

Obviously, if a toilet is available nearby then use it and use it properly. Many wilderness toilets use natural methods to make the waste safe. If you do not follow the instructions given then you will upset the carefully created balance.

Dealing with waste water from washing

Another item that is impractical to carry out is waste water from washing. You should be using only biodegradable soaps and then in bowls not directly in water sources. When you are finished with washing dispose of the waste water at least as far away as you would toilet waste. This allows the soil to strain away and disperse any pollutants, giving nature a chance to deal with them before they contaminat the local water supply.

In order to follow the above guidance you need to prepare for your camping. You will need some plastic bags to carry waste out, and some form of digging tool if you know that there will be no toilet available. You also need to get some biodegradable soap - for you and for your dishes.

If you follow these guidelines you can feel pleased that you have not left one form of unnecessary trace behind. In later articles I will look at other responsible camping issues so that you can avoid other forms of trace .