Don't litter. Pack it in, pack it out. Take only pictures and leave only footprints. That's probably the first thing people think of when they consider "Leave No Trace." We're taught before we even start school that littering is wrong, and how to use a trash can. However, some people still seem to struggle with this concept. I often pick up at least one piece of waste each time I head out. When I went to Boulder Cave, it was mere days after opening and I ran into trash everywhere...I packed out a whole bag and could have packed out more if I had room.
Pack it in smart to pack it all out
The best way to avoid littering is to avoid bringing in waste to begin with. Look at your food packaging. Is there a way you can reduce it? The less you load your pack with, the less you have to pack out.
We live in a world of water bladders and collapsible water bottles, so consider those options instead of a disposable plastic bottle. Also, consider having a dedicated space in your pack for waste. I try to compress all my trash together to both save space in my pack and to make it easier to clean out later.
If you get to the trailhead and the trash is full? You get to pack it all the way home! Don't cram your junk in an overstuffed trailhead trash bin. This should be common sense, but it's a problem I see all the time. Just take it home and throw it in your own trash bin. Or hit up a rest stop on the way and chuck it in their bin, whatever. Just make sure it ends up securely in the trash and off the trails.
Let's talk about dog poop
I've written about this before, but it serves a brief mention again. Pick up after your dog. Dog poop doesn't decompose the same as wildlife scat, so it needs to come out with you. On a recent hike on Cowiche Mountain, I noticed several piles of hard, dried dog poop trailside that definitely wasn't decomposing quickly. So make a plan to pack it out. I have a dedicated outer pocket on my pack for used dog bags.
Also, can we please stop with the bagging of dog poop and leaving it behind? You're just adding dog feces and plastic litter. It's worse than not bagging it up at all. I don't understand why people do this, and it needs to stop.
Let's talk about human poop
"Dispose of Waste Properly" means all waste, not just bits of paper and plastic litter, so let's talk about it. I've been fortunate enough to not encounter used TP and human feces trailside, but it seems to be a common issue in some areas based on the complaints I read in various hiking forums, so we need to learn how to shit in the woods (that link leads to some suggested reading).
Typically, you can dig a cathole and bury your shit. You'll want to find a space 200' from any water source, and 100' off the trail, and you'll want to dig your hole at least 6 inches deep. Make sure you also stay away from any poisonous plants...you should be staying away anyway but when exposed ass is at stake you want to be extra careful!
You can bury your shit, but you must pack out the TP! Same goes for tampons. A ziplock bag will do; you can double it up for extra peace of mind.
If you're on snow, rocks, in a narrow river canyon, etc., then you'll need to pack your shit out too. Most ranger stations for alpine areas offer "blue bags" to pack it out. You can find "wag" bag systems with absorbent gelling powder to help with sanitation, and it's usually a double-bag set-up. When done properly, you should be able to pack it out without contaminating the rest of your pack.
Whatever you do, don't just leave your shit lying around. No one wants to see your shit. Figure your shit out.
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