Camping in undeveloped or backcountry areas means handling waste that you’d normally never think about — your own bodily waste, food scraps that can’t go in a kitchen bin, hygiene wipes, packaging from trail food. The principles for handling this waste responsibly are different from at-home composting. Some materials that compost fine at home don’t compost in wilderness conditions. Some practices that seem reasonable cause real environmental damage at scale.
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This article covers the practical compostable waste practices for camping — Leave No Trace principles, cathole etiquette for human waste, what “compostable wipes” actually means in wilderness conditions, and food scrap handling that doesn’t habituate wildlife or leave traces. The goal is responsible practice that minimizes impact whether you’re car camping at a developed site or wilderness backpacking miles from any infrastructure.
The Leave No Trace baseline
The Leave No Trace principles, developed by the LNT Center for Outdoor Ethics and adopted by the National Park Service and most outdoor education programs, provide the foundation:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimize campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
For waste handling specifically, principle 3 covers the practices below. The detail behind that principle is more involved than the simple statement suggests.
Human waste: catholes and beyond
The right approach for handling human waste depends on the environment:
Developed campsite with toilets: Use the toilets. Don’t dig catholes when toilets are available.
Backcountry without toilets, durable terrain: Dig a cathole.
Above tree line, alpine, desert, or arctic: Pack it out (no cathole — environments are too sensitive).
Heavy-use areas: Pack it out (cathole density would be too high to be sustainable).
Within 200 feet of water sources: Never. Move at least 200 feet (about 70 adult paces) from any water source.
Cathole spec
A proper cathole:
- 6-8 inches deep (deep enough to bury, shallow enough that microbes can break down waste; topsoil layer)
- 4-6 inches wide
- 200+ feet from water, trails, and campsites
- In organic soil if available (avoid sandy or rocky areas where decomposition is slow)
- Covered completely after use — natural materials (leaves, soil) on top
The typical “trowel” carried for catholes is a small lightweight trowel with a marked depth indicator (the Deuce of Spades, the QiWiz Big Dig, or similar). Cost: $15-25.
What goes in the cathole
- Solid human waste (the primary purpose)
- Toilet paper if it’s plain unbleached single-ply paper that decomposes within 6-12 months
- Compostable wipes (if certified, see below)
What doesn’t go in the cathole (pack it out instead)
- Tampons, pads, menstrual cup contents (don’t decompose well, can attract wildlife — bag and pack out)
- Diapers
- Wet wipes (most aren’t actually compostable, see below)
- Anything plastic
- Most “biodegradable” or “flushable” wipes (the marketing claim doesn’t hold for wilderness conditions)
For these items, a sealed waste bag (Ziploc or specifically-designed waste bags from outdoor stores) gets carried out and disposed of properly at home or at a developed waste facility.
When cathole composting actually happens
A common misconception: “I dug a cathole, the waste composts, problem solved.”
Reality: cathole waste decomposes over 6-24 months in temperate environments, longer in cold or dry climates, longer in dense traffic areas where the soil microbiome is degraded. In some environments (desert, alpine, arctic), waste essentially mummifies rather than composting.
The cathole is a way to handle human waste relatively responsibly, not a way to make it disappear quickly. In high-traffic backcountry areas, accumulated cathole density becomes an issue — which is why heavily-trafficked areas now require pack-out (using human waste bags like WAG bags or RESTOP bags).
The compostable wipes question
Wet wipes have become widespread for camping hygiene — body wipes for “shower” simulation, hand wipes after meals, baby wipes for general cleanup. The compostable claim on most “biodegradable” or “compostable” wipes deserves scrutiny.
What’s in standard wet wipes
Most wet wipes are made from:
– Polyester or polypropylene fiber (not compostable)
– Mixed natural-synthetic blends (partial compostability)
– Sometimes pure cellulose or rayon (compostable)
The wetness preservative system (typically containing parabens, formaldehyde-releasing compounds, or other preservatives) is designed to keep wipes moist for shelf life — these chemicals can be problematic for soil ecosystems even when the fiber is compostable.
“Flushable” vs “compostable” claims
“Flushable” wipes (the major category) are designed to break apart in water flow but don’t actually decompose quickly. Most municipal wastewater systems consider them a problem (sewer clogs, treatment plant issues). Wilderness conditions are less favorable for breakdown than wastewater treatment plants.
“Compostable” wipes that carry actual certification (BPI, TÜV) are a small subset of the market. These typically use cellulose fibers and water-only or natural-preservative wetness systems. They genuinely compost in industrial composting facilities. In a cathole, they break down within 6-18 months under typical conditions.
Actually compostable wipe brands worth knowing
A few brands offer wipes that genuinely qualify as compostable:
- Combat Wipes (BPI certified compostable): Marketed for outdoor use, plant-based fibers, biodegrade in 30 days under industrial composting.
- Honest Company plant-based wipes: Plant-based fibers; compostability varies by line.
- Natracare compostable wipes: Cellulose-based, plant-based ingredients.
- Coyuchi compostable cotton wipes: Pure cotton, simple ingredient list.
For wilderness use, the genuinely compostable brands can go in a cathole. Standard wipes (even ones marketed as “biodegradable” without certification) should be packed out.
A practical wipe strategy
For most camping needs:
– Bring a small pack of certified compostable wipes for the situations where wipes are essential (post-cathole hygiene, occasional body cleanup)
– Use plain water and a bandana for general hygiene wherever possible
– Pack out any non-compostable wipes that get used incidentally
The wipe-minimal approach works for most camping. Heavy reliance on wipes (multiple wipes per day per person) creates more waste than the wilderness can handle even if the wipes are technically compostable.
Food scrap handling
Food waste in the backcountry has different rules than at home:
The rule: don’t bury, don’t burn, don’t drop — pack out.
Even small amounts of food waste cause problems in wilderness:
Wildlife habituation: Animals find buried food, learn that humans = food, become aggressive around campsites. Bears, raccoons, marmots, and other wildlife have been killed because they became “problem animals” after habituation to human food sources.
Decomposition rate: Most food doesn’t compost quickly in wilderness conditions. Banana peels take 2 years to decompose. Orange peels take 6 months. Apple cores take 2-3 months. None of this is “leave no trace” timeframe.
Aesthetic and impact: Food scraps create visible impact on campsites. Other visitors see the previous group’s apple core and the experience degrades.
What to do with food scraps
- Pack into a sealed bag (Ziploc, dedicated food waste bag, or repurposed Ursack/bear canister space)
- Carry to next developed area with proper disposal
- For compostable scraps at home: standard composting works
- For the carrier bag itself: a compostable trash bag works for the carry-in/carry-out cycle and can be composted with the contents
Backcountry cooking with minimal waste
The best approach to food waste handling is to minimize generation:
- Repackage food before the trip (remove plastic packaging, transfer to reusable bags)
- Plan portions accurately (avoid leftovers)
- Choose foods with minimal scrap profiles (instant oatmeal vs whole oats with dried fruit, dehydrated meals vs fresh ingredients)
- Eat all food prepared (no “I’ll throw out the rest” with backcountry meals)
- Drink coffee fully (no leaving grounds in the cup to dump)
A well-planned backcountry trip generates almost no food waste. The waste handling becomes a non-issue.
Hygiene and personal care
Beyond wipes, other personal care products have wilderness implications:
Soap and shampoo: Use only if necessary, in very small amounts, at least 200 feet from water. Standard soaps contain phosphates and other ingredients that affect aquatic ecosystems. Camp soap (Dr. Bronner’s, Campsuds, Sea-to-Summit Wilderness Wash) is biodegradable and concentrated — use 1-2 drops, not a typical shower amount.
Sunscreen: Reef-safe and biodegradable formulations are appropriate. Most spray sunscreens contain propellants that aren’t ideal for wilderness; lotion is preferred.
Insect repellent: DEET formulations are persistent in environments. Picaridin or natural alternatives are more wilderness-friendly.
Toothpaste: Use small amounts, spit at least 200 feet from water in a small “spit hole” you bury. Don’t spit in or near water sources.
Menstrual products: Pack out completely. Compostable pads and tampons exist but don’t decompose quickly enough in wilderness for cathole disposal.
The general principle: the more “natural” the product, the smaller the amount, the lower the wilderness impact. Heavy use of any product (even biodegradable products) in concentrated areas (campsites) accumulates faster than the environment can process.
Trash and packaging
For everything else — food packaging, hygiene wrappers, gear waste — the rule is pack it out:
Reusable bags: Designate trash bags within your pack. Compostable bags work for the carry-out portion.
Compress what you can: Crush cans, fold cartons, flatten food bags to reduce volume in the carry-out load.
Double-bag if odorous: Smelly trash (food packaging) attracts wildlife — double-bag and store with food (in bear canister or hung from tree per local guidance).
Don’t burn trash: Burning plastic releases toxic compounds. Burning food packaging often doesn’t fully consume the materials. Pack out instead.
Wet trash: Soaked food packaging, dirty wipes, etc. Bag separately to avoid leaking through pack.
The carry-out volume for a multi-day trip with thoughtful planning is typically 1-2 quarts per person per day — manageable in standard pack space.
Group considerations
For organized group trips (Scout outings, school trips, organized commercial tours), the waste handling involves more planning:
- Designated pack-out person or rotation
- Group cathole etiquette (mark used catholes to avoid re-digging)
- Food planning to minimize scraps
- Common waste collection and storage system
- Education for newer participants on the practices
A well-organized group of 8-12 can manage backcountry waste responsibly with these systems. A poorly-organized group of the same size can cause significant impact in a short time.
A reasonable summary
Camping composting and waste handling in backcountry environments follow different rules than at-home composting. Catholes work for human waste in appropriate conditions (durable terrain, low-traffic areas, well away from water) but aren’t a magic decomposition solution — waste persists for months to years. Compostable wipes that carry actual certification (BPI, TÜV) can go in catholes; most “biodegradable” or “flushable” wipes don’t qualify and should be packed out.
Food scraps don’t go in catholes, don’t get burned, don’t get buried — they get packed out. The decomposition timelines for “natural” food waste (banana peels, orange peels, apple cores) are far slower in wilderness conditions than the “leave no trace” framework allows.
For broader compostable foodware that comes along on camping trips (compostable plates, bowls, utensils), the same rule applies: pack out to dispose properly at home or developed waste facilities. The “compostable” claim doesn’t make wilderness disposal acceptable; it makes home or commercial composting an option once you carry the items out.
The overall principle: minimize waste generation through careful planning, handle generated waste responsibly within the constraints of the environment, and leave the wilderness in the same or better condition than you found it. The compostable products and natural materials that dominate at-home sustainability practice play different roles in wilderness contexts — the compostability label is one consideration, not a free pass on disposal practices.
For backcountry travelers committed to low-impact practices, the cathole etiquette, compostable wipe selection, food waste pack-out, and hygiene minimalism described above represent the practical baseline. The combination produces a trip that genuinely leaves no trace — even in heavily-traveled wilderness areas where collective impact accumulates fast if visitors aren’t disciplined about waste handling.
For B2B sourcing, see our compostable supplies catalog or compostable bags catalog.
Verifying claims at the SKU level: ask suppliers for a current Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) certificate or an OK Compost mark from TÜV Austria, and check that retail-facing copy meets the FTC Green Guides qualifier requirement on environmental claims.