How Do You Carry Out Waste When Backpacking?

By Robert Palmer

Backpacking is an increasingly popular way to explore the outdoors and get close to nature. It often requires a certain level of self-sufficiency, including the ability to manage waste in an environmentally friendly way.

Carrying out waste when backpacking is essential for maintaining the beauty of our natural environment and preserving it for future generations.

The most important rule when it comes to carrying out waste when backpacking is Leave No Trace. This means that anything you bring into the outdoors should be taken out with you.

This includes all trash, food scraps, and human waste. To reduce the amount of trash, bring reusable containers for water, snacks, and meals. Pack your food in reusable or biodegradable packaging, such as paper bags or beeswax wraps.

When it comes to human waste, it’s important to find a safe spot away from water sources and trails where you can bury your waste at least 6 inches deep. Carry a shovel or trowel in order to dig a shallow cat hole for your waste.

Place a rock on top of the cat hole when finished to deter animals from digging it up.

If you are camping in an area without access to toilets or other facilities, you may need to use a portable toilet such as a backcountry toilet. These are lightweight devices that allow you to safely contain your human waste until it can be disposed of properly at home or in an appropriate disposal site.

Carrying out all your trash and human waste when backpacking is essential for preserving our natural environment for future generations. Follow the Leave No Trace principles by bringing reusable containers and packing out all your trash and food scraps. If necessary, use a portable toilet or bury your waste at least 6 inches deep in an appropriate spot away from water sources and trails.

Conclusion: Carrying out all your trash and human waste while backpacking is essential for maintaining the beauty of our natural environment. Follow the Leave No Trace principles by bringing reusable containers, packing out all trash and food scraps, using a portable toilet if necessary, or burying any human waste at least 6 inches deep in an appropriate spot away from water sources and trails.