Is it legal to bury the loo contents in State Forest. And what about National park?
Obviously at least 30 or 40 meters from lakes and water courses such as creeks.
SoloMC said
05:13 PM Dec 2, 2021
in order to get accurate information, why not contact them directly? . you will get 20 different answers on here and none may be right
i remember reading the 'clean waters Act' years ago as part of my work and technically it was an offence to put clean water into a polluted watercourse because 'it changed the chemical makeup of the stream'
dabbler said
05:17 PM Dec 2, 2021
Can't comment on state forests other than it probably varies from state to state but in Qld NP it's illegal if there is any form of toilet available. If none available, you follow published guidelines.
We bury 95% of our toilet waste because of where we typically travel.
If we are in an area where toilets are provided (but there is no dump point) we will empty the cassette into those toilets. It is important in those circumstances to avoid any use of unsuitable chemical additives.
Cheers,
Peter
Corndoggy said
07:32 PM Dec 2, 2021
Go have a camp on the Murray River at any well known and frequently visited sites. I have only been to one but that was enough for me. I do take it that they will all be the same. Went at a busy time, place was crowded. People camped on the bank overlooking the water. Caravan/tent and 1 or 2 toilet tents, 1 for no1s, 1 for no2s. Spoke to a guy been doing it for years. What he does is dig a hole maybe 12 " deep placed a garbage bag in it and lined his seat with it so no no2s on his thunderbox. When he left, picked up his box and folded the plastic over the top of it covered with some dirt. "How it gets done" in his words. This all within meters of the edge of the top of the bank. Been done thousands of times over years.
I decided to check it out. Grabbed a spade and started to dig in spots. Gave up after 10 or so places. Struck plastic just under the surface, I think on all of them. So not only has the bank been contaminated with faeces, its wrapped in plastic. I grabbed a hole digger from the guy camping beside me and walk away from the river maybe 20m where he had dug some holes. 2 out of 3 holes I started brought up plastic. Got to an area 5m further, in bushes and managed 2 holes 700mm deep ,no plastic. Would have liked further but couldn't, but better than the "norm" for there.
This was at an area below Albury somewhere. Some say camping on the Murray is great. All I can think of is your camping on the top of a big s*** pit. Then I prefer camping at fresh clean water areas like places on the Upper Murray anyway.
Sarco Harris said
07:39 PM Dec 2, 2021
So at least in Vic, do it wrong and there is a 20 penalty unit fine - currently $165.22 per penalty unit = $3304.40.
However, I don't think this is actually referring to cassettes of toilet waste. I believe that this is more in accord with cat sanitation (ie. dig a hole, do your business, fill in the hole).
Other than areas where the toilets are periodically pumped out, I don't think that the dumping of chemical toilet wastes into them would be allowed.
Certainly many toilets in the high country and other areas have signage prohibiting the placing of chemical toilet wastes into the drop toilets.
-- Edited by Sarco Harris on Thursday 2nd of December 2021 07:55:03 PM
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:44 PM Dec 2, 2021
Sarco Harris wrote:
Other than areas where the toilets are periodically pumped out, I don't think that the dumping of chemical toilet wastes into them would be allowed.
Certainly many toilets in the high country and other areas have signage prohibiting the placing of chemical toilet wastes into the drop toilets.
This because too many people unnecessarily use unacceptable chemicals in their cassettes.
The addition of some sodium percarbonate will actually be beneficial to most toilets, both septic and long drop.
Cheers,
Peter
Wannabe nomad said
11:31 PM Dec 2, 2021
OMG disgusting, another reason why the river is so sick. I live on the banks of the river down stream (Murray Bridge way) and I swim in it hmm
Wannabe nomad said
11:34 PM Dec 2, 2021
Sorry I meant my message to corndog but I'm technically challenged lol
Mike Harding said
05:26 AM Dec 3, 2021
Corndoggy wrote:
Go have a camp on the Murray River at any well known and frequently visited sites. I have only been to one but that was enough for me.
Sadly, all too true.
It appears many of the once or twice a year people who camp along the Murray are, quite simply, ill mannered pigs. Toilet paper in the bushes is common much of which, I suspect, is discarded by women after urination.
The best thing to do is avoid such areas and leave the pigs to wallow in their own filth however I would like to see a few prosecutions for this behaviour.
oldbloke said
09:55 AM Dec 3, 2021
Corndoggy wrote:
Go have a camp on the Murray River at any well known and frequently visited sites. I have only been to one but that was enough for me. I do take it that they will all be the same. Went at a busy time, place was crowded. People camped on the bank overlooking the water. Caravan/tent and 1 or 2 toilet tents, 1 for no1s, 1 for no2s. Spoke to a guy been doing it for years. What he does is dig a hole maybe 12 " deep placed a garbage bag in it and lined his seat with it so no no2s on his thunderbox. When he left, picked up his box and folded the plastic over the top of it covered with some dirt. "How it gets done" in his words. This all within meters of the edge of the top of the bank. Been done thousands of times over years. I decided to check it out. Grabbed a spade and started to dig in spots. Gave up after 10 or so places. Struck plastic just under the surface, I think on all of them. So not only has the bank been contaminated with faeces, its wrapped in plastic. I grabbed a hole digger from the guy camping beside me and walk away from the river maybe 20m where he had dug some holes. 2 out of 3 holes I started brought up plastic. Got to an area 5m further, in bushes and managed 2 holes 700mm deep ,no plastic. Would have liked further but couldn't, but better than the "norm" for there. This was at an area below Albury somewhere. Some say camping on the Murray is great. All I can think of is your camping on the top of a big s*** pit. Then I prefer camping at fresh clean water areas like places on the Upper Murray anyway.
Pretty gross. I've seen similar in the high country.
oldbloke said
10:00 AM Dec 3, 2021
So, would it be fair to say most likely ok if 100 meters away from water or water courses such as creeks etc
Mike Harding said
12:39 PM Dec 3, 2021
oldbloke wrote:
So, would it be fair to say most likely ok if 100 meters away from water or water courses such as creeks etc
Yep.
The other legal acts use the same definition and somewhere I recall they specify a minimum depth of 150mm but I always dig down to at least 300mm and dig a new hole every few days - this when swag camping.
On the occasions I empty the caravan cassette in the bush (sodium percarbonate) I drive around the forest until I find a spot where a large tree once stood but has fallen some years past, the soil in this spot is loose and it's easy to dig a really deep hole. What helps as well is that I do not put loo paper into my toilet but rather into a plastic bag and burn every few days.
The other thing I have done for many years with latrine holes in the bush when I fill them in is to find two sticks each about 600mm long and push them into the soil of the filled-in hole to form a cross or letter 'X'. It is obvious nature didn't put them there so hopefully others will recognise it's best not to dig here. However I'm usually in places few others visit and I expect nature has returned my deposits to fertiliser in a couple of months.
oldbloke said
01:27 PM Dec 3, 2021
Only done it a couple of times. Well away from camps, water etc dug a short trench about 250 deep. Let it soak in for a few minutes then cover. But mine has the paper. I'd say 6 weeks, good as gone.
Peter_n_Margaret said
01:56 PM Dec 3, 2021
In the Simpson Desert. When finished, this hole took 2 cassettes.
The other useful piece of info is that if you divert urine from the cassette and minimise the flushing water, it is possible to extend emptying from about 3-4 days to about 2 weeks. We divert the urine to the grey water tank (which is easier to dispose of). We have done this if we expect to be somewhere where emying the cassette is likely to be difficult for some reason.
Up to now, I have never had to use it, as there are plenty of official dump points, at the free camps near the bitumen highways
My research, IIRC a few years ago now, was no digging anywhere near water, and at least 100 metres away from a campsite, plus dig deep
peatop said
12:40 PM Dec 4, 2021
depending on where I'm camping to how I dispose of my waste but in the bush toilet is always in a hole dug to last a few days with a cover of soil after each deposit, back in the 90's when I built my house the local Gov kept changing their policy on disposal of human waste via a toilet to tank, I decided to just use a bucket while they decided on what could and couldn't be done.
As it turned out, this was not up to them but a health inspector from a regional office, he said that I could have a bucket toilet but not a long drop and the waste had to be buried more than 300 deep but not deep enough that it would sit on the clay level.
I too have often come across less than desirable signs of waste in the free camping areas, this is one reason I much prefer to camp away from most other campers, the toilet at the Sawpit camp in Portland Vic can get so disgusting at times I would drive into town every morning.
Whenarewethere said
01:10 PM Dec 4, 2021
If you are looking for a toilet toilet map is very good.
https://toiletmap.gov.au/
Izabarack said
05:05 PM Dec 4, 2021
Those camping on the foreshore and beaches north of Brisbane have caused many a problem for themselves. The standard long drop dug behind the first row of dunes has contaminated the water table resulting in, right now, closures of some camping areas due to outbreaks of Gastro etc. Inskip/Rainbow beach is a current example. A sand spear and pump for access to the freshwater bubble above the salt water under the sand has been responsible for many a ruined holiday over the last few years. Fecal contamination of the water table is now widespread. Its a cliche true but $hiting in your own nest seems to cover the situation. The situation described is not avoided by simply burying your Poo in a deep hole. Bushwalkers are increasingly required to use things like purpose built Poo tubes to carry their poo out of National Parks and the like. The notion of Self containment needs to get wider advertising. The requirement to be Porta Pottie equiped has been introduced in some NPs in Qld in an effort to stop the disgusting practice of leaving Poo everywhere.
-- Edited by Izabarack on Saturday 4th of December 2021 07:01:51 PM
oldbloke said
12:25 PM Dec 5, 2021
Well, like most polutents it's about the concentration I guess.
Aus-Kiwi said
12:59 PM Dec 6, 2021
Some think their sh!t doesnt stink ! Adding plastic to it doesnt allow it to break down !! I never burry close to water ways . Due to people having no common sense ? I can see the authorities are going to ban it ! The big part is the amount of concentration . We have larger black tank . So we can be more selective where we burry . Not near any camping, water areas !!
msg said
03:48 PM Dec 6, 2021
And people ask the same question about letting grey water run out when in free camps. No, their little bit of water will not make a difference but its about the concentration. What if everybody did it.
Get a fully self contained vehicle or don't camp. Leave no trace.
Mike Harding said
04:15 PM Dec 6, 2021
Yeah, msg - I've been having a few words with the kangaroos about using the bush for toilet purposes, they pay no heed.
I agree; just stay in the cities and leave no trace.
msg said
05:05 PM Dec 6, 2021
MH not helpful
Mike Harding said
05:07 PM Dec 6, 2021
But truthful.
oldbloke said
05:54 PM Dec 6, 2021
People should see what happens on dairy farms. More poop than you can pock a stick at.
I might be corrected here.
In the end sewerage farms like Werribee:
Pump some out to sea.
Pump some onto the farm(s) and ponds.
Used it as fertiliser.
Some water is recycled.
It doesn't disappear into thin air. The plants, insects and bacteria look after it.
The shallow grave of a *strangled darkie* and the subsequent decoration of white paper is caused in most cases by weekend warriors who think they are *The Wayard Brothers* on an expedition. The true outback travellers if burying human waste and burning paper as has been suggested, will cause little to no damage to the environment.
These weekend warriors are the same people that throw bloody Kimbies and the like out of the car window. They are just pigs and should be penalised. Policing with a heavy hand is required but most of you know that it wont happen.
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Monday 6th of December 2021 06:03:38 PM
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Monday 6th of December 2021 06:04:21 PM
Would just like to confirm.
Is it legal to bury the loo contents in State Forest. And what about National park?
Obviously at least 30 or 40 meters from lakes and water courses such as creeks.
i remember reading the 'clean waters Act' years ago as part of my work and technically it was an offence to put clean water into a polluted watercourse because 'it changed the chemical makeup of the stream'
No one is going to be prosecuted providing people apply common sense in regard to public areas and watercourses including dry ones.
National Park rules
If we are in an area where toilets are provided (but there is no dump point) we will empty the cassette into those toilets. It is important in those circumstances to avoid any use of unsuitable chemical additives.
Cheers,
Peter
I decided to check it out. Grabbed a spade and started to dig in spots. Gave up after 10 or so places. Struck plastic just under the surface, I think on all of them. So not only has the bank been contaminated with faeces, its wrapped in plastic. I grabbed a hole digger from the guy camping beside me and walk away from the river maybe 20m where he had dug some holes. 2 out of 3 holes I started brought up plastic. Got to an area 5m further, in bushes and managed 2 holes 700mm deep ,no plastic. Would have liked further but couldn't, but better than the "norm" for there.
This was at an area below Albury somewhere. Some say camping on the Murray is great. All I can think of is your camping on the top of a big s*** pit. Then I prefer camping at fresh clean water areas like places on the Upper Murray anyway.
So at least in Vic, do it wrong and there is a 20 penalty unit fine - currently $165.22 per penalty unit = $3304.40.
However, I don't think this is actually referring to cassettes of toilet waste. I believe that this is more in accord with cat sanitation (ie. dig a hole, do your business, fill in the hole).
Other than areas where the toilets are periodically pumped out, I don't think that the dumping of chemical toilet wastes into them would be allowed.
Certainly many toilets in the high country and other areas have signage prohibiting the placing of chemical toilet wastes into the drop toilets.
-- Edited by Sarco Harris on Thursday 2nd of December 2021 07:55:03 PM
This because too many people unnecessarily use unacceptable chemicals in their cassettes.
The addition of some sodium percarbonate will actually be beneficial to most toilets, both septic and long drop.
Cheers,
Peter
OMG disgusting, another reason why the river is so sick. I live on the banks of the river down stream (Murray Bridge way) and I swim in it hmm
Sadly, all too true.
It appears many of the once or twice a year people who camp along the Murray are, quite simply, ill mannered pigs. Toilet paper in the bushes is common much of which, I suspect, is discarded by women after urination.
The best thing to do is avoid such areas and leave the pigs to wallow in their own filth however I would like to see a few prosecutions for this behaviour.
Pretty gross. I've seen similar in the high country.
Yep.
The other legal acts use the same definition and somewhere I recall they specify a minimum depth of 150mm but I always dig down to at least 300mm and dig a new hole every few days - this when swag camping.
On the occasions I empty the caravan cassette in the bush (sodium percarbonate) I drive around the forest until I find a spot where a large tree once stood but has fallen some years past, the soil in this spot is loose and it's easy to dig a really deep hole. What helps as well is that I do not put loo paper into my toilet but rather into a plastic bag and burn every few days.
The other thing I have done for many years with latrine holes in the bush when I fill them in is to find two sticks each about 600mm long and push them into the soil of the filled-in hole to form a cross or letter 'X'. It is obvious nature didn't put them there so hopefully others will recognise it's best not to dig here. However I'm usually in places few others visit and I expect nature has returned my deposits to fertiliser in a couple of months.
In the Simpson Desert.
When finished, this hole took 2 cassettes.
The other useful piece of info is that if you divert urine from the cassette and minimise the flushing water, it is possible to extend emptying from about 3-4 days to about 2 weeks.
We divert the urine to the grey water tank (which is easier to dispose of).
We have done this if we expect to be somewhere where emying the cassette is likely to be difficult for some reason.
Cheers,
Peter
Up to now, I have never had to use it, as there are plenty of official dump points, at the free camps near the bitumen highways
My research, IIRC a few years ago now, was no digging anywhere near water, and at least 100 metres away from a campsite, plus dig deep
depending on where I'm camping to how I dispose of my waste but in the bush toilet is always in a hole dug to last a few days with a cover of soil after each deposit, back in the 90's when I built my house the local Gov kept changing their policy on disposal of human waste via a toilet to tank, I decided to just use a bucket while they decided on what could and couldn't be done.
As it turned out, this was not up to them but a health inspector from a regional office, he said that I could have a bucket toilet but not a long drop and the waste had to be buried more than 300 deep but not deep enough that it would sit on the clay level.
I too have often come across less than desirable signs of waste in the free camping areas, this is one reason I much prefer to camp away from most other campers, the toilet at the Sawpit camp in Portland Vic can get so disgusting at times I would drive into town every morning.
If you are looking for a toilet toilet map is very good.
https://toiletmap.gov.au/
Those camping on the foreshore and beaches north of Brisbane have caused many a problem for themselves. The standard long drop dug behind the first row of dunes has contaminated the water table resulting in, right now, closures of some camping areas due to outbreaks of Gastro etc. Inskip/Rainbow beach is a current example. A sand spear and pump for access to the freshwater bubble above the salt water under the sand has been responsible for many a ruined holiday over the last few years. Fecal contamination of the water table is now widespread. Its a cliche true but $hiting in your own nest seems to cover the situation. The situation described is not avoided by simply burying your Poo in a deep hole. Bushwalkers are increasingly required to use things like purpose built Poo tubes to carry their poo out of National Parks and the like. The notion of Self containment needs to get wider advertising. The requirement to be Porta Pottie equiped has been introduced in some NPs in Qld in an effort to stop the disgusting practice of leaving Poo everywhere.
-- Edited by Izabarack on Saturday 4th of December 2021 07:01:51 PM
Get a fully self contained vehicle or don't camp. Leave no trace.
Yeah, msg - I've been having a few words with the kangaroos about using the bush for toilet purposes, they pay no heed.
I agree; just stay in the cities and leave no trace.
But truthful.
I might be corrected here.
In the end sewerage farms like Werribee:
Pump some out to sea.
Pump some onto the farm(s) and ponds.
Used it as fertiliser.
Some water is recycled.
It doesn't disappear into thin air. The plants, insects and bacteria look after it.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Western_Treatment_Plant
The shallow grave of a *strangled darkie* and the subsequent decoration of white paper is caused in most cases by weekend warriors who think they are *The Wayard Brothers* on an expedition.
The true outback travellers if burying human waste and burning paper as has been suggested, will cause little to no damage to the environment.
These weekend warriors are the same people that throw bloody Kimbies and the like out of the car window.
They are just pigs and should be penalised.
Policing with a heavy hand is required but most of you know that it wont happen.
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Monday 6th of December 2021 06:03:38 PM
-- Edited by Rob Driver on Monday 6th of December 2021 06:04:21 PM