Safely Disposing of Human Waste while Camping
Camping is an enjoyable outdoor activity that can be enjoyed by individuals, families, and groups. It’s a great way to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life and explore the great outdoors. However, despite all the joy, camping trips can quickly turn sour if correct waste management practices are not followed. This is especially true for the disposal of human waste. To help ensure your camping trips are safe and enjoyable, we’ve compiled this helpful guide on how to get rid of human waste when camping.
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Why is Proper Waste Disposal Important?
When camping amongst nature a certain level of respect and caution should be taken when dealing with the environment. This not only includes managing the waste that is produced during your stay, but also ensuring the natural beauty of the environment is maintained. Leaving human waste that is not disposed of properly can cause a hazard to both the environment and humans, and creates perfect breeding grounds for pests and bacteria.
It is therefore essential to keep the environment safe and clean by discarding human waste in the proper manner. When done correctly, discarding human waste is simple and fast to carry out.
Shovels and Cat Holes
When there are no public toilets nearby, it is completely normal and acceptable to use the outdoors as your toilet. The most popular and most hygienic way to do so is by digging a cat hole. This is a small hole dug 6-8 inches into the ground. After use, the hole should be covered up with soil.
It is also important to utilize a shovel whilst camping. Not only does this ensure everyone has access to a toilet when needed, but it is also extremely helpful when burying solid human waste. When camping, it is important to carry a small spade or trowel in order to bury solid wastes quickly and effectively.
Then dispose of all toilet paper in a fire. Make sure the fire is away from any potential living creatures and cover virtually all the ashes with sand when done burning.
Dealing with Urine
Peeing into the ground is normally not a big problem, however, it should be noted that soils in some regions might have a problem dealing with high concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorous in the ground due to peeing environments. It is therefore important to avoid excessive peeing in the same area and to try to scatter urine as much as possible. It is also important to be respectful to other campers and not leave a smelly mess for them to encounter.
Portable Toilets & Chemical Toilets
Portable toilets are also a great solution for your outdoor toilet needs. These small toilets are a great solution for larger groups or when camping in popular spots. They allow you to discard your waste hygienically and maintain sanitation even when you’re outdoors. They also come with a variety of accessories, including liquid waste tanks that allow you to discard all the collected waste quickly and easily.
Chemical toilets are also a great solution for disposing human waste in the outdoors. This type of toilet uses small amounts of chemical to break down waste and reduce unpleasant odours. Chemical toilets can be easily set-up and used anywhere, and also come with easy disposal, ashtray, and dedicated tanks for liquid and solid waste.
When using a chemical toilet it is important to always follow the instructions that were included with the toilet. This will ensure that you maximize the effectiveness of the set-up.
Conclusion
Getting rid of human waste when camping is an important aspect of engaging in outdoor activities. It is essential to ensure that waste is properly disposed of in order to maintain the cleanliness and safety of our environment. This guide should have provided you with several helpful ideas on how you can correctly discard human waste when camping.
At the end of the day, what matters the most is to choose a method that works for you and is convenient for your camping trip. By taking proper caution and using the right disposal methods, you can keep both your camping environment clean and your health safe. Finally, don’t forget to check with the park’s camping regulations about human waste disposal.