A latrine is basically a hole or trench in the ground which you use to dispose of human waste. Possibly the first reference to a latrine is in the Bible in Deuteronomy chapter 21 verses 12 and 13 
 "12 Thou shalt have a place also without [away from] the camp, whither thou shalt go forth abroad: 13 And thou shalt have a paddle upon thy weapon; and it shall be, when thou wilt ease thyself abroad, thou shalt dig therewith, and shalt turn back and cover that which cometh from thee:"

In most areas, the top six inches or so of soil contain a myriad of decomposing bacteria. Mother Nature is quite capable of breaking down human waste in small quanities, as well as plain, non-scented toilet paper. (Paper with strong scents or dyes may take longer to break down. Look for septic tank approved or paper for chemical toilets. These are designed to break down quickly.)

Locate your latrine far enough away from the main camp to allow privacy. You can also use the natural screening of the underbrush, or even place a tarp around the spot

The length of the trench you dig will depend on how long you will be staying, and how many people are camping there. After digging the trench, use the latrine by starting at one end and covering only the part you use each time.

After a latrine has been fully covered over with dirt, it is customary to place 2 sticks in an X pattern flat on the ground over the hole (or a series of x's if the trench is long). This is to clue future campers not to dig there. By the time the sticks decompose, the human waste will be long gone.

Keep your toilet paper in a zip-loc or similar bag to keep it clean snd dry. You can leave a small shovel by the latrine to fill in the dirt, or just put the dirt in by hand.


(OR USE YOUR BROWSER'S BACK BUTTON TO RETURN TO PREVIOUS PAGE