Proper Waste Disposal in the Outdoors

It’s Leave No Trace Friday! ✨ (Save this post for your next outdoor adventure and share it with your outdoor friends!) We are officially onto principle number three. Dispose of waste properly! We are talking all forms of waste here! Let’s start with human waste.. 😳 Yes, we gotta talk about it! In most places burying waste is the appropriate thing to do, but in some cases packing out is the correct option. Checking with land management agencies can help you figure out which option is correct for the area you’re visiting! If the area you’re visiting requires you to pack it out there are pack out systems for human waste available so make sure to do your research and plan ahead in case you need one 👌🏻 If burying your waste is an option for the area you’re in, it is important to dig a hole 6-8 inches (in the desert 4-6 inches) deep and disguise the covered hole with pine needles or other natural materials. Finding a place 200 ft away from water with sun exposure is also vital in keeping the water sources clean and to aid decomposition. Toilet paper should be either buried with waste or packed out, along with tampons and any other trash that is accumulated throughout your trip. Pack it in, pack it out. And if you see trash from other, don’t be afraid to pick that out too. Urinating on rocks, pine needles, or gravel is the best practice in order to not attract animals (they like the salt) or you can dilute it was some water from your water bottle. Wastewater from dishes needs to be taken 200 ft away from water sources and strained through a fine meshed strainer and then disbursed. Soap (even the biodegradable kind) affects water systems so again, 200 ft away from any water sources. Also keep in mind that swimming with sunscreen and lotion on can affect water ecosystems. And so can the oils from your skin so always be mindful as to where you are swimming. Have you ever showered outdoors from a bucket or with some other nifty outdoor shower tool? To find out more about leave no trace visit @leavenotracecenter or LNT.org!