American Alpine ClubExit Strategies

American Mountaineering CentreGolden Colorado July 30 & 31 2010

Managing Human Waste in the WildPresented by

Tom Hopkins thopkins@doc.govt.nzJohn Cocks john.h.cocks@mwhglobal.com

New Zealand Context

New Zealand:• Population 4 million people• 2 million international visitors

per annum• 8 million hectares of

protected lands• Protected lands approx. 1/3

of New Zealand’s land area

Mountains…

Rivers…

Lakes…

Coastline…

What used to be…

• Tourist Department Huts• Club Huts• Wild Animal Control Huts• Forest Service Huts• Research Huts• High Country Farming

(Mustering) Huts

What used to be…

• Rustic toilet facilities!

Today….

• 959 backcountry huts• 81 of these are owned by clubs e.g. New Zealand

Alpine Club with 17 huts• Sometimes co-managed with Department of

Conservation• 313 campsites, 106 of which are backcountry and

not accessible by road• Popular walks now highly developed

‘Great Walks’…

Alpine Huts…

Basic Huts…

Campsites…

Drivers of Change…Cultural

Drivers of Change - Social

• Aversion to pit toilets – sights and smells

• Desire for higher level of service – flush toilets

• “Human Waste Contaminates”

• Restrictive Regulations

Photo title

Environmental Drivers• Nutrients• Pathogens• Odour

Examples of Change – Fly Out/Pump Out

Mt Ruapehu and Iwikau Village• Nutrient Issues• Pipe waste off mountain

Examples of Change - Composting

• Ambient temperatures• Operational demand• Bulking agent• Disposal of product

Examples of Change - Hybrid Toilet

• d. Hybrid toilet

Examples of Change – Secondary Treatment

• Reduced land application area• Lower contaminant loads• Secondary level of treatment with

no power input, low operator input

Current Issues - Financial

• Cost of waste removal• Operator skills• Compliance monitoring costs

Current Issues - Social

• Sustainable solutions• Technological fixes• Distrust of natural

processes• Staff turnover

Principles of the Treaty of Waitangi• Water is ‘taonga’ – treasure, giving life

force• Holistic approach to physical and spiritual

valuesUnderstanding and appreciating key concerns• Abhorrence of direct discharge of human

waste to natural water• Objection of transporting sludge past

waahi tapu ancestral lands/sitesCultural Protocols• Consultation with tangata whenua• Removal of all rubbish and human waste• Public education

Current Issues - Tangata Whenua Cultural Well-Being

Current Issues - Environmental

Emerging Solutions – Urine Evaporator

Emerging Solutions – Natural Energy

Emerging Solutions – Carry Out

Questions?