What to do when busting in the bush -Wilderness Magazine

When you gotta go, you gotta go. This mantra may be the reason why in recent years human excrement has become an increasingly common sight on popular tracks and great walks.

Unfortunately, the philosophy isn’t really working in the New Zealand back country – not only are faeces and used toilet paper a blight on a pristine landscape, but they can also contaminate streams and rivers with harmful, long surviving diseases like giardia.

Unfortunately, the philosophy isn’t really working in the New Zealand back country – not only are faeces and used toilet paper a blight on a pristine landscape, but they can also contaminate streams and rivers with harmful, long surviving diseases like giardia.

With the issue worsening every year, the Department of Conservation has been attempting to educate track users about the best practise in the back country. But what exactly are the options for someone – whether seasoned tramper or tender tourist – to avoid a messy situation when busting in the bush?

Bury it. A no brainer for many trampers, this has long been accepted as standard procedure in the international outdoor community. The practise is advocated by DOC, Federated Mountain Clubs and Auckland Tramping Club all of whom provide the same instructions: always carry a pocket trowel, dig a shallow hole about 15 centre meters deep and at least 50 metres away from any waterways, tracks or campsites. When finished, refill it and cover it with leaves.

But this method only works in forested or vegetated areas. In rocky or alpine landscapes, holes might be harder to dig. The cooler temperature also means that waste will not decompose as easily and may remain for a long time. In these situations all three organisations advice packing out the waste.

“A portable container should always be used, when tramping through alpine environments and caves. It can then be emptied in the nearest toilet,” says Federated Mountain Clubs spokesman Danilo Hegg.

The Department of Conservation provides such a container, which can be bought at regional visitor centres. Called a Pootube, it consists of a screw top container and several biodegradable corn starch liners. The user deposits waste onto the liner, wraps it up and seals it securely in the container.

An alternative product, known as a Wag Bag (Waste Alleviation and Gelling) is also available online. Unlike the Pootube, the user can defecate directly into the biodegradable inner Wag Bag, which solidifies the waste with a silica like substance enabling multiple use. This can then be folded down and sealed in the odour proof outer bag.

There are also more heavy duty options such as the Eco Safe Toilet System. Used by the 1998 Mt Everest Cleanup Project, the product is exactly as the name suggests – a portable, lightweight toilet with the capacity for 50 uses.

As useful as these products are, they’re typically aimed at experienced trampers. To accommodate the crowds of novice backpackers in the summer months, DOC intends to put more rangers on the ground, encourage appropriate behaviour and build more toilets.

“Where we have put in extra resources we’ve had really positive results.” says Aaron Fleming, DOC Operations Director Southern South Island. “Education is key, and we’ll continue to work hard to manage people’s behaviour. It’s all part of caring for the environment.”