tom hopkins, john cocks - managing human waste in the wild
TRANSCRIPT
American Alpine ClubExit Strategies
American Mountaineering CentreGolden Colorado July 30 & 31 2010
Managing Human Waste in the WildPresented by
Tom Hopkins [email protected] Cocks [email protected]
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?