Remember plastic shopping bags? Yes they were a blight on the environment but they were perfect for those times when you just couldn’t hold it in any longer. They even came with handles.
There’s no escaping it – if you head away in your truck for some off-grid camping, you will need something to shit in. DOC’s network of campsites delivers at least a longdrop, if not a compost toilet, so heading for one of those is a good option.
The old advice for when no longdrop is available is to dig a hole well away from people and water and properly bury your poo and toilet paper. That’s all to reduce the risk of spreading disease, giardia in particular. It’s nasty, and can cause diarrhoea, nausea and stomach cramps.
Increasingly, the call from some outdoor adventurers is to ‘pack it out’ – take your waste home with you rather than leave it behind. And if trampers can do it, those of us with room in the back of the truck have little excuse.
So, what are the options? You can trawl the internet for recipes involving quicklime and go for a trial-and-error approach. Good luck with that. Or you can get the benefit of someone else’s research and check out the Pocket Toilets being sold by caughtshort.co.nz They come in a pack of six. Chuck one in the glove box and you’re sorted.
Everything you need is included – there’s a specially shaped waste bag that offers a modicum of dignity; a sachet of odour-absorbing powder that dissolves on contact with liquids, so you don’t need to rip it open; toilet paper, a smell-free disposal bag, and an antibacterial hand wipe. Seal it all up after you’ve done your business and drop the bag into a rubbish bin when you can.
Too easy, eh! The bags might not be as flashy as your new fridge or LED lights but they’re No. 1 when it comes to No. 2s.
Main photo courtesy of DOC
Caught Short NZ | Keep Calm & Be Prepared
