Packing out human waste is not extreme. In many Australian environments, it is now the responsible standard. Alpine plateaus, arid landscapes, fragile coastal tracks and heavily used backcountry routes do not have the soil depth, temperature or biological activity required to break down human pathogens effectively. Burial in these areas often results in contamination, wildlife disturbance and visible waste emerging months or years later.
If we expect wild places to remain wild, cumulative impact must be addressed directly. Packing out solid human waste is one of the most effective ways to do that.
Why burial is often not enough
Traditional catholes were once considered sufficient in most environments. Today, increased visitation has changed the equation.
Human faeces contain bacteria and pathogens that are not naturally present in wilderness ecosystems. When waste is buried in shallow, cold or heavily compacted soils, decomposition is slow and incomplete. Heavy rain can expose buried waste. Wildlife frequently digs up toilet paper. In high-use areas, the result is predictable: visible contamination and degraded campsites.
Pathogens also do not remain neatly contained. In sandy or arid soils, such as those found in Central Australia or on many coastal tracks, pathogens can migrate further through porous substrates than they would in dense clay-based soils. This increases the risk of groundwater and surface water contamination, particularly after rainfall events.
In fragile environments, burial is no longer a low-impact solution. It is simply a delayed impact.
Where packing out is expected
Packing out waste is strongly recommended, and sometimes required, in:
- Alpine and subalpine areas
- Arid and desert regions
- High-use coastal tracks
- Heavily trafficked multi-day routes
- Areas with thin, rocky or waterlogged soils
Professional practice is shifting toward “pack it out unless burial is clearly appropriate”. Increasingly, experienced hikers treat packing out waste as a mark of competence, not inconvenience.
How WAG bag systems work
The most practical method is a WAG bag system. WAG stands for Waste Alleviation and Gelling.
A typical system includes:
- An inner waste bag containing gelling powder that solidifies liquid and reduces odour
- A heavy-duty outer bag that is puncture-resistant and sealable
After use, the inner bag is sealed and placed inside the outer bag. The sealed system is then carried out and disposed of in general landfill waste.
When stored inside a dedicated dry bag or rigid container in your pack, leakage risk is negligible.
Modern systems are compact, lightweight and designed specifically for backcountry use. They are standard in many alpine and desert regions worldwide.
Using a WAG bag in the field
Move well away from water sources, campsites and tracks before setting up.
For hikers unfamiliar with the process, simplicity reduces stress. Most backcountry users squat directly over the open bag placed on stable ground. In windy conditions, placing a small rock in a corner or using a stick to hold the bag open prevents collapse. Some dig a shallow depression purely to stabilise footing, not to bury waste.
WAG systems can also be used over portable toilet seats or buckets in car camping contexts, but on a hike, ground use is the norm.
After use:
- Seal the inner bag carefully.
- Place it inside the outer puncture-resistant bag.
- Store it in a dedicated waste pouch separate from food and cooking equipment.
Hand hygiene remains critical. Use sanitiser or wash thoroughly before handling food or water.
Addressing the discomfort factor
For many hikers, hesitation is psychological rather than practical.
A simple double-bag method helps. Place the sealed WAG bag inside an opaque or duct-tape-wrapped outer bag so contents are not visible. Store it in a separate dry bag clearly designated for waste.
Once sealed properly, odour is minimal. Modern systems are engineered specifically to manage containment.
The alternative is cumulative contamination of fragile landscapes.
If burial is clearly appropriate
There are environments in Australia where soil depth, climate and low visitation make burial acceptable.
If burial is appropriate, and is your only option, select a site at least 100 metres from water, campsites and tracks. Dig a cathole 15 to 20 centimetres deep in biologically active soil. After use, cover completely with the original soil and restore the surface naturally. All toilet paper must still be packed out.
Burial should be the second option, not the default.
The broader environmental impact
Human waste affects more than aesthetics.
It introduces pathogens into ecosystems. It alters animal behaviour. Dingoes, currawongs, goannas and feral deer are known to dig up buried waste and toilet paper. This behaviour spreads contamination and can draw wildlife toward campsites.
Even urine has impact. In alpine and high country environments, feral animals such as deer and brumbies are attracted to salts in urine and may damage fragile vegetation attempting to access mineral deposits.
Every input into a fragile system has consequences.
Hygiene, discipline and trail safety
Gastrointestinal illness on the trail is frequently blamed on untreated water. In many cases, poor hand hygiene is the real cause.
Clean hands thoroughly after any toileting procedure. Keep waste systems separate from food preparation areas. Treat waste handling as a deliberate, controlled process.
Managing waste properly is part of disciplined backcountry travel. Discipline reduces contamination. It also reduces cognitive load, stress and the likelihood of compounding mistakes later in the day.
Small decisions compound.
The core principle
If solid human waste cannot decompose safely and invisibly within a reasonable timeframe, it should be carried out.
This is not about perfection. It is about responsibility.
Packing out waste protects water sources, wildlife, soil systems and the experience of every person who walks after you.
Wild places do not manage our impact for us. We manage it ourselves.
What are some creative ways you’ve found to make packing out your waste easier and more eco-friendly while camping?
Australian Backcountry Festival covered this topic in a leave no trace / poo tube workshop on the weekend at Mt Hotham. As more & more people venture outdoors year round & into backcountry in winter where digging a hole isn’t as option (snow too deep, ground is frozen & alpine conditions don’t lead to human waste decomposing) it’s imperative this topic is brought to people’s attention & we start following best practice. Awareness & education will hopefully lead to poo tubes, (not for pooing into but for packing out human waste) becoming a standard piece of gear particularly when walking in sensitive environments & where no pit toilets exist. We talk a lot about being light weight, having a great sleep system, water treatment, layering of clothing, footwear, stove & cooking options…we need to add leave no trace etiquette as an equally important topic or better still as an over arching banner and everything we take & do outdoors falls under this LNT header.
Alicia Crossley well said