Best practices in the outdoors are always evolving, along with the way we use the land and our understanding of our impact. So is it time that we start packing out every poo we do in the bush?

A trowel is your trusted friend in times of need, until it’s not. A snapped trowel, one that won’t quite break the rock or dirt mixture near camp to get you the recommended 15cm deep into the ground, or a frosty morning, can have you dancing around when nature calls.

There’s an alternative to digging catholes to do our business in, but as a species that doesn’t have much experience dealing with our own waste, it may be confronting to think about packing out our number 2s.

But there’s also no doubt that more and more people are heading out and embracing the outdoors. How does this affect hiking hygiene? Can the environment really process all of our poos? Of course stumbling upon human faeces is unsightly, but what are the environmental impacts on these ecosystems? Let’s dive in.