The composting option for human waste disposal in the backcountry

By S. C. Fay

Subjects: Waste disposal in the ground, Compost

Description: The disposal of human waste by composting at backcountry recreation areas is a possible alternative to methods that are considered unsafe. The literature indicates that aerobic, thermophilic composting is a reliable disposal method that can be low in cost and in maintenance. A bark-sewage mixture can be composted to produce a pathogen-free substance that might be used in site rehabilitation. Composting in a leakproof bin is odorless, and is largely independent of site conditions.