DISPOSE OF WASTE PROPERLY - Appalachian Trail Leave No Trace

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"Pack it in, Pack it out." Don't burn, bury, or leave litter or extra food. This includes cigarette butts, fruit peels, and hygiene articles. Keep your trash bag handy so you can pick up litter left by others. Use the privy for human waste only (feces). Do not add trash. If there is no privy, dispose of human waste by burying it in a "cat-hole," a hole 6-8 inches deep, 4-6 inches wide and at least 200 feet (80 steps) from campsites, water sources and shelters, and well away from trails. Add dirt to the hole, and stir with a stick to promote decomposition. Push toilet paper to the bottom of the hole, and leave your stick in the hole. Don't hide your waste under a rock -- this slows its decomposition. Note that most "disposable wipes" are made from non-biodegradable material that must be carried out rather than buried, burned, or left in privies. For those willing to go the extra mile, consider packing out your toilet paper, too. Animals' curiosity often brings toilet paper and other trash to the surface, where it's left for volunteers and other hikers to deal with. Wash dishes, bodies, and clothing 200 feet away from water sources. Use biodegradable soap sparingly, or not at all. Avoid polluting the water by rinsing off at a distance to remove your excess sunscreen, bug repellent, etc., before going for a swim in a lake or stream. Disperse dishwater and toothpaste, and urinate well away (at least 100 feet) from shelters and popular campsites. In this way, wildlife is not attracted close to camp. Animals sometimes defoliate plants to consume the salt in urine, so urinate on rocks or bare ground rather than on the vegetation. Where water is plentiful, consider diluting the urine by adding water to the site. If you wish to donate items to other hikers (food, extra gear, clothing, books, etc.), don't leave them at shelters -- where they can attract wildlife and become an eyesore -- use the hiker donation boxes at motels and hostels. Special thanks to Tom Banks, Tara Roberts, Kip Perry, Javier Folgar, Laurie Potteiger, Kevin Williams, Andi Changuris, Adin Ray, Travis Smith, Richard Potteiger, Kristofer Plona, Brandon Dennison, Bergen Butara, Hans Fogle, Brent Rowle, Frank Salzano, Parking Lot Productions, Leave No Trace, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.