Poop bags stationed at Squamish climbing sites, but they’re not for dogs
Posted September 13, 2023 12:43 pm.
Last Updated September 13, 2023 1:48 pm.
Exploring B.C.’s incredible array of nature shouldn’t be a crappy experience.
With trails and climbing areas around Squamish seeing a big uptick in use over the past few years, one local organization says it has found a big uptick in human waste left in the wilderness.
Ben Webster with the Squamish Access Society says the group worked in partnership with BC Parks to install bag dispensers that hikers can use when nature calls on the trails — and the bags have been getting great reviews.
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“The other piece right now is for people that haven’t travelled to areas that have the white bags, it’s just bringing people on board — having this paradigm shift to understand that this is now the way to deal with human solid waste out in nature,” he said.
The Waste Alleviating Gel Bags, or WAG bags, contain a powder with enzymes that break down fecal matter and smell, making it possible for hikers to pack them out and dispose of them properly.
“We tested it out by having a bag and [putting it in] a hot car for the day, inside of the car, and there were no odours afterward. So the bags are effective, they’re robust, you don’t have to worry about leakage. And the idea is you take it out and dispose of it properly afterwards,” he explained.
The bags are available from dispensers at a number of trailheads — and Webster says he hopes to see the program replicated in other parts of the province.
If you’re worried about the logistics of how to use the bag, don’t worry — Webster explains it’s quite simple.
“Take one of these bags, they’re quite compact — the size of a small burrito — and we tear it open. And then our bags, they just open up nice and wide. And there’s the large opening and [you] don’t have to worry too much about accuracy while you’re using it.”
Editor’s note: This article has been updated to correct Webster’s name.
