Award Winning Products for Pooping in the Backcountry

Participation in outdoor recreation continues to grow rapidly. This increase in participation has many effects. One of the biggest is the increase in mis-handed human poop and toilet paper. Human poop is much more toxic than animals because we eat a different diet and are exposed to so many more pathogens.

Pathogens in human poop like E. coli have been found to persist in the soil, contaminating waterways, harming wildlife and creating public health issues. Land managers are forced to respond by reducing permits, camping access and even closing high use areas. As a result, mis-handled poop in the backcountry is one of the biggest drivers of reduced access in the outdoors.

As land management resources like staff and budgets continue to be reduced, the problem will likely grow. Taking the simple steps to be prepared to poop in the outdoors is more important than ever. For more on this topic, check out our Research Brief: Why Use Mycelium To Break Down Poop In The Backcountry?

Toilet paper and conventional wet wipes were never designed for the outdoors. They’re heavy, bulky and contain a range of chemical additives that slow decomposition and are known to be harmful to human health. Conventional wet wipes often contain plastic (polyester) fibers which break down into microplastics. To prevent them from molding in the packaging, manufacturers add antimicrobial and antifungal treatments.

PACT Wipes solve all of these challenges. They save weight and space. Unlike wet wipes, they never dry out in the packaging. But, because you activate them with water, they clean as well as a wipe. The material used in PACT Wipes is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified, meaning they’re free of over 1,000 chemicals commonly found in textiles. Less chemicals means faster break down. They are third party tested to decompose completely in 95 days on average. For more on this topic, check out The Hidden Chemicals in Toilet Paper and Wet Wipes and Our Solution.

Research has shown that the microbes in the soil that help to decompose poop are often unable to keep up with buried or surface level waste. Why? Ecosystems, particularly across the U.S., have very different environmental conditions that impact soil microbe activity.

A growing body of work supports mycoremediation: the use of fungi to solve soil pollution problems. Fungi are nature’s recyclers and upcyclers, and have a unique ability to break down both organic and inorganic pollutants, converting them into bioavailable nutrients for the soil. Stropharia rugosoannulata, the species of fungi used in PACT Tabs, has the capacity to break down numerous kinds of environmental pollutants from fossil fuels to E. coli (found in poop). It is essential in the decomposition of organic matter and by extension soil health and nutrient cycling which all organisms depend on for survival. Through this process they contribute to the biodiversity of ecosystems, support carbon sequestration which in turn supports more plant growth and carbon capture.

The fungi used in PACT Tabs grow natively across the U.S. and pose no risk for invasive or aggressive behavior. The Saptrotrophic class of fungi which they belong to have reciprocal, non-competitive relationships with plants and other organisms. In fact, they are essential to the survival of forests and ecosystems. PACT Tabs are approved for use on public lands by the Code of Federal Regulations. We recommend using PACT Tabs in all environments where burying waste is approved practice. In all others, please continue to pack out.

Users should be prepared to pack out their poop using a Pack Out Kit or “WAG Bag” in the following areas: arid deserts, alpine environments (elevations where trees do not grow), when you can’t get at least 200’ from waterways (e.g. canyons), and places that receive so much use that the environment cannot adequately decompose the amount of buried human waste.

Unless specified by local land managers, all other areas should be safe to bury your waste. However, it’s a good idea to check the local regulations before heading into the backcountry.

In addition, you should consider your activity when determining whether burying or packing out your poop is more appropriate. For example, when backcountry skiing in the winter, you can't dig an adequate hole, so packing out is essential. In addition, with rock climbing, participants are usually congregating around concentrated areas at the base of rocks, making packing out the best practice. Conversely, hunters spend time off trail, venturing as far from other users as possible, so burying poop is generally acceptable practice.

We recommend keeping disposable Pack Out Kits in your packs and vehicles and having a burial kit with you whenever you head into the outdoors. That way, you’re prepared for any situation. For more information on minimizing your impact in the outdoors, review Leave No Trace guidelines. Also, check out our blog post, Why Burying Your Poop Doesn’t Always Work And What Hikers Should Actually Do.