No, two bags will not hide your poop

[Trebor English]

I have lived in a home with an outhouse.  A family in a small home with neighbors not too far away can't conveniently use cat holes.  If there is a landfill that is not very close and no regular garbage truck pickup you have to accumulate and drive your own garbage to the dump.  Everybody stops at the home of the old guy at the end of the road to take his garbage too because we know he doesn't drive. 

You have to do something with poop.  Outhouse and cat hole don't work with a 20 unit 4 story apartment building in a city.  Municipal sewer systems work but they are expensive and when there is a breakdown the mess is big.  A well managed landfill is effective. 

Either you keep it here and compost it for years (literally, years) or transport it to another place to compost or incinerate.  "Into a proper toilet"  is just a portal into a hydraulic powered transport network that goes to another place.

 

[tx2sturgis]

If you ever meet me (some of you have) you would never guess in a million years "no way - not in a cat hole - no way". Way.

Hey can I buy you a drink?

Wait, you did WHAT?

Oh...ok...uh...never mind...

:dodgy:

 

[Weight]

I was not aware that cheap van dwellers were so spoiled. Use a toilet? How often I found myself with no toilet available. With only the edge of a park or side of a roadway to dig a cat hole. That will not work with my life style. I do now have "Wag Bag" kits. Used in my private five gallon bucket *******. Bagged-and-Dropped in a trash container is ecologically and public health-icly just fine. Just legal. Just fine. Get over it wusses.

https://www.rei.com/product/692303/cleanwaste-go-anywhere-toilet-kit-waste-bag

https://www.blm.gov/or/resources/recreation/files/brochures/portabletoilets.pdf

 

[WanderingRose]

The BLM link provided states about these portable toilets/bags: “ Improper disposal of toilet contents only makes the problem worse. Portable toilet systems must be disposed of properly, at designated locations or fixtures provided for that purpose, such as RV dump stations and authorized vault toilets. ”

 

[bullfrog]

I think you need to read that BLM link more closely as it states some bags are approved for landfills which is where all bags should end up. Putting any plastic bag down a sewer or in any facility that must be pumped or flushed through piping is definitely not good or allowed.

 

[WanderingRose]

Right.

I was responding to the BLM link, which is solely regarding portable toilets and the disposal of contents, not about pooping in bags and where those should go.

Of course, no Poop bags should go in flush toilets or pit toilets.

If you are referring to this “When reducing bulk and weight is a high priority, single-use, individual bag products are available which consist of a heavy-duty zip- locking bag containing a special powder. The powder inside the bag turns liquid to gel on contact, neutralizes odors, and helps to break down the waste. Many of these bag products are approved for disposal in a landfill (check local laws to determine what is legal for use in the area you will be visiting). Care must be taken with all bag systems to prevent small animals from tearing holes in the bags”, they refer to special-use bags and checking local laws.

People can do what they feel is best for them, but I think that putting human waste in the trash is dangerous.

 

[tx2sturgis]

Nothing fires up the natives more than another stinky poop thread...

:dodgy:

 

[jay-ney]

If you have read my posts before then you know I don't mean to argue. But what is the objection disposing of such in the trash? Many diapers (child and adult) are disposed of the same way. I often use biodegradable bags made of corn plant fibers and in my area most of the garbage turned into energy at incinerators which is more environmentally sound than many sewer treatment plants. What are you proposing we full timers do with "it"?

Loved the tip!

 

[desert_sailing]

Another alternative.  http://www.biffybag.com/how-it-works.htm

Of particular note would be the last 2 sentences.

"Easily disposable in any trash receptacle. It is landfill approved."

2 choices.. landfills via trash receptacles or waterways via sewer systems.

I will take crap in/on the ground over crap in my swimming hole or drinking water.

 

[crofter]

If you ever meet me (some of you have) you would never guess in a million years "no way - not in a cat hole - no way". Way.

Is this going to be a group event at the next RTR? I can't wait. LMAO. The cats vs the bags. Will the event be timed?
-crofter

 

[GypsyJan]

"Is this going to be a group event at the next RTR? I can't wait. LMAO. The cats vs the bags. Will the event be timed?"

It will be timed using video, of course.

 

[desert_sailing]

When I was 10 we lived in the country and had many animals ..cows..horses.. sheep.. the whole Ol' Macdonalds song going on.

Once we were left at home alone while the folks ran some quick errands and a "friend" was hanging out.  I am not sure what happened but the next thing I know he got very upset and started breaking my toys and those of my siblings.. 3 of them all one year younger than the next.

While we often "fought" amongst ourselves we instantly allied and reset our target. We chased this guy (10yo) out the front door and across an entire 5 acre field "front yard" which was used as pasture for the cows... picking up and pelting him with cowpies the entire way...LOL

I am sure he remembers it to this day. We did not do a dryness test on the pies before grabbing and hurling them and being country we ALL had pretty good aim. We stopped at the property line but he still had another 2 miles  at least, to shame walk home covered in cow crap.

Riding the school bus was very interesting the rest of the year. Everyone knew to beware the Johnson kids!

Lessons learned....Some people endure doodoo issues well beyond an odor in a trash can and don't break other peoples toys.

 

[nature lover]

Well now the cat is out of the bag!!!

crofter- yes this will be an event at the RTR but be sure to tell everyone it is BYOB - Bring Your Own Bucket.

 

[jacqueg]

Another alternative.  http://www.biffybag.com/how-it-works.htm

Of particular note would be the last 2 sentences.

"Easily disposable in any trash receptacle. It is landfill approved."

Very clever. But that's a lot of prep work for someone in a hurry...

 

[nature lover]

looks to me that the biffy bag would be welcome at a toga party. and looks like you have to remove you cloths to use it??? I highly recommend a useful and hilarious book titled "HOW TO S**T IN THE WOODS". Great stories real info and a 4 page definition of the word s**t included things like you wouldn't s**t me would you, you little s**t, built like a brick s**t house and much more. One of my favorite stories is about a young lady on a multi day white water raft trip. As the rest were around the campfire she climbed the steep bank Well above the others and out of their sight she sat over a log an did it. She was horrified as she stood up, pulled up her pants and turned around to see the result of her labor rolling quickly down the hill and between her fellow campers coming to rest at the campfire ring.

as Forest Gump says s**t happens

 

[crofter]

What happens on the moon stays on the moon, at least that's the plan.
-crofter

Description: link to article, plans for lunar recycling.
https://www.wired.com/story/on-the-moon-astronaut-pee-will-be-a-hot-commodity/

But won't that be stinky, or are there no smells on the moon?
-c

 

[WanderingRose]

We just want to get rid of it.
The EPA says put it in the trash.

I have been unable to find anything from the EPA or any other government source that says generally that putting bagged poop in the trash is safe, advised or otherwise acceptable, other than those specially treated poop bags that have some content in them which breaks feces down.

https://www.fs.fed.us/t-d/pubs/html/95231202/95231202.html

I suspect that many using this method are not buying these speciality bags.

I have found lots of references to landfills not being able to handle this, to human feces being a biowaste needing careful disposal, the risk of bags breaking and animals carrying the pathogens of untreated feces to other places, burst bags allowing untreated human feces to get into rivers and other water supplies, etc., etc.

Does anyone have an EPA link regarding this?

 

[Trebor English]

A well managed landfill is different from a bunch of people all dumping their garbage in one place. 

A well managed land fill will not be leaking into lakes, rivers, and underground water supplies.  Pests, coons, rats, bears, etc will have very limited access. 

Can you suggest something better?  

A toilet is just a portal.  It brings the poop into an out house pit or a  hydraulic transport sewer system.  Then what?  It's out of sight and far enough "away" so the smell doesn't bother people.  The transport water has to be removed and the sludge gets disposed by some means.  Pathogens are still there.

Composting takes years.  How long do you want to keep your poop? 

Manufacturing special products like bags and additives requires resources and produces waste.  Transport of such to the location of use is not free of wastes. 

Chucking garbage into the ocean is a time honored tradition.  It keeps the garbage safe from coons and possums.  

I have been unable to find anything from the EPA or any other government source that says how to dispose of old newspapers.  They are full of hateful lies and the poop that comes from the mouths of politicians.  How long does it take for all that hate to dissipate?

 

[WanderingRose]

There is mention of special purpose bags other places, such as when backpacking, river rafting, etc..

I don’t agree that infant diapers and van dwelling adults routinely pooping into bags and dropping them into the trash extrapolates to the same thing.

Human waste that goes into our sewer system or pit toilets has to be treated, which is why the recommendation for personal portable toilets being dumped into one of these.

The issue is untreated human waste, considered a health hazard, being carried into the environment from burst bags thru rain runoff, rodents and other small animals, even birds.

The responsible thing to do is to make every effort to get it into some kind of toilet or dump station.

It’s a choice.

My opinion, and I’ll stop now.

 

[nature lover]

We all have our opinions - it has been an interesting thread. WanderingRose said she is done and I agree. I think we have said all that could be said about the subject. It has been said that the longer you stir in poop the more it sticks. I have stirred enough.