# Waste & Hygiene

Part of the Backpacking Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/backpacking/guide/index.md)

*4. Leave No Trace & Camp Hygiene*

> **4b.** Describe proper methods of handling human and other wastes while on a backpacking trek. Describe the importance of and means to assure personal cleanliness while on a backpacking trek.

Nobody's favorite topic — but one of the most important. Improper waste disposal contaminates water sources, spreads disease, attracts animals, and ruins the experience for every hiker who comes after you. Staying clean on the trail also protects your health and keeps your crew functioning well.

### Human Waste

The standard method for disposing of human solid waste in the backcountry is the **cathole method**:

1. Walk at least **200 feet** (about 70 adult paces) from any water source, trail, or campsite.
2. Dig a hole **6 to 8 inches deep** and **4 to 6 inches in diameter** using a trowel or sturdy stick.
3. Do your business in the hole.
4. Cover the hole completely with the original soil and disguise the surface with natural materials.

> **Safety First!**
>
> Always carry a lightweight backpacking trowel. Trying to dig a cathole with a stick or rock is unreliable — the hole may not be deep enough for proper decomposition, which increases the risk of contamination and disease.

**Important exceptions:**
- In some high-use wilderness areas, regulations require you to **pack out** all solid human waste using WAG (Waste Alleviation and Gelling) bags. Check the rules for your specific area.
- Above the tree line, in snow, and in desert environments, decomposition is extremely slow. Catholes may not work. Many alpine areas require pack-out systems.
- **Toilet paper** should be packed out in a sealed zip-lock bag. Burying toilet paper does not work — animals dig it up and it takes years to decompose. Some hikers use natural alternatives like smooth rocks or leaves (make sure you can identify poison ivy first).

### Other Waste

- **Gray water** (dishwater, wash water): Strain food particles out with a small screen or bandana. Pack out the food bits. Scatter the strained water over a wide area at least 200 feet from any water source.
- **Food scraps**: Pack out everything. Apple cores, orange peels, and nutshells do not biodegrade quickly in the backcountry and attract animals.
- **Trash**: Pack it out — all of it. Bring a dedicated trash bag and do a campsite sweep before you leave.
- **Feminine hygiene products**: Pack out in sealed zip-lock bags. Never bury or burn these.

> **Tip**
>
> Bring two or three small zip-lock bags specifically labeled for waste: one for used toilet paper, one for food scraps, and one for general trash. Double-bagging eliminates odor issues in your pack.

### Personal Cleanliness

Staying clean on a multi-day trek is not about luxury — it is about health. Bacteria from dirty hands cause gastrointestinal illness. Dirty feet develop blisters and infections faster. A clean crew is a healthy crew.

![A Scout using a small bottle of biodegradable soap and water from a pot to wash their hands at a backcountry campsite, well away from a stream](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/backpacking/guide/backcountry-hand-washing?v=94d37d3b)

**Hand hygiene** is the single most important cleanliness practice:
- Wash your hands with biodegradable soap and water before every meal and after using the bathroom
- If water is scarce, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer (at least 60% alcohol)
- Keep a small bottle of sanitizer clipped to your pack for easy access on the trail

**Body hygiene** on multi-day treks:
- A "sponge bath" with a bandana, a pot of warm water, and a few drops of biodegradable soap is effective and uses minimal water
- Wash at least 200 feet from any water source
- Change into dry, clean socks at camp each evening to prevent blisters and foot infections
- Avoid soap in streams or lakes — even biodegradable soap disrupts aquatic ecosystems

**Cooking hygiene:**
- Wash all cookware with hot water and a small amount of biodegradable soap after every meal
- Strain dishwater and scatter it at least 200 feet from water sources
- Never leave food or crumbs at your cooking site — this attracts bears, rodents, and insects

### Video Resources

Video: [How to Poop in the Woods](https://youtu.be/Dk2k1QEyY7U?si=f4XaWPIgmh29_Cm9)

[Leave No Trace — Disposal of Human Waste](https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/dispose-of-waste-properly/): Official guidance on waste disposal methods for different backcountry environments.

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- Previous: [Leave No Trace](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/backpacking/guide/req4a/index.md)
- Next: [Choosing a Campsite](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/backpacking/guide/req4c/index.md)