Tin Cans

Empty tin cans can be a bane at many campsites. They are difficult to dispose of. Quite simply you have two choices.

You either burn them, then bash them flat and bury them or you crush them and carry them home.

Most modern tins can be recycled now so simple clean them, flatten them and store apart from the others.

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Incinerator

If the site does not have an incinerator of its own you will need to make one. Any rubbish that can not be burned on the campfire should be placed in the incinerator. The ashes should be removed at regular intervals and disposed of as above.

You will need a large metal can (an ‘oil-drum’ type is ideal). Pierce the can with holes all round and place over a fire. You may find it easier to fill the can with earth and use a large nail or spike when making the holes.

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Oil Can Filter

A filter will be required for all those mucky and greasy wet items you want to dispose of. If you are allowed to dig into the ground at your site, make yourself a trench a just bigger than your can, and at least 30cm deep. Stuff your oil can with grass, leaves and bracken.

Place a grid (either metal or make a lattice from natural materials) over the hole and place the filter on top. Make sure you replace the filter materials often.

Use to filter any wet, or more useful, greasy waste.

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Dry Bin

Only washed items should be placed in the bin. Any cans or containers must be flattened first.

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Wet Bin

Most campsites frown upon anyone digging holes in the ground, most certainly when they intend to leave some form of waste in the hole! Instead you will want to construct a bin. You will need two types, a wet and dry.

The details of construction have already been covered in the camp gadgets section.

Make sure you replace the bin bag at regular intervals and either store in a place that is out of reach of any person/animal or, ideally, immediately dispose of this rubbish at an appropriate area. Most campsites have proper bins for waste disposal anyhow, but if you are camping in the middle of nowhere, you will either bury your rubbish or take it home with you!

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Dry Pit

A dry pit is constructed as above. The two pits should be next to each other, and fairly close to the campfire and kitchen area. For the dry pit you simply need a ‘hole-in-the-ground’. Only place thoroughly washed or burnt material here, otherwise you will have animal visitors and insects paying you a visit, making life in camp a bit more uncomfortable! 

Never place any glass or sharp materials (e.g. a ripped tin can) in the pit.

When you have finished with the pit, it should be filled in with earth and completely covered. It should then be marked with a sign placed into the ground at that point with a date on which it was created.

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Wet Pit

If permitted a simple wet and dry pit should see to most of your needs. Simple to construct, you just excavate an area around a metre square, and at least 20 cm deep. Clearly rope off and mark the pit, and make sure it is placed so that people will not be falling in it every two seconds.

Cover with a layer of interlaced sticks and a filter layer of grass/ leaves etc. These layers should be renewed daily.

When you have finished with the pit, it should be filled in with earth and completely covered. It should then be marked with a sign placed into the ground at that point with a date on which it was created.

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Waste Disposal

Waste will be disposed of. That should be the rule for camp.

Simply do not leave any waste, of any description, anywhere at any time.

When you arrive at the site you should already know what the warden/landowner wishes you to do with any rubbish (you don’t? Go and ask now). My knowledge of local, ‘modern’ sites is that they have specific areas for rubbish disposal, clearly placed bins, and an incinerator of their own. They also tend not to let people dig any pits/trenches for any use (campfire, rubbish disposal or latrines). Make sure you know what you can and cannot do on your site.

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Toilets – Sitearea

If you are using existing toilets you will have little choice about their location. If you have to camp close to toilets make sure they are downwind of the rest of your campsite (your campsite should not be next to the toilets in any case). If you have had to construct your own, make sure they are in fact ‘off-site’ and downwind of the prevailing wind.

They should be clearly marked and screened from view. Ideally some washing facility should be placed by the toilets themselves. Latrines should be dug downhill of the camp and away from the water supply as well. You must be careful not to dig them too far away otherwise people will be tempted to ‘go’ somewhere closer to hand!

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Tentage – Sitearea

Where you place your tentage will determine the layout of the rest of the camp to a large extent. Tentage should be placed towards the outer edge of the site if possible (not in the middle of the field!). Choose a flat area, clear of any roots/rocks. Do not place tents right next to trees (especially solitary trees that will attract any lightning!), and be sure to look above as well as around on the floor. Look out for any possible ‘deadfalls’ from the surrounding trees. Common sense says that no tentage should be placed near the campfire/ chopping area/toilets.

Care should be taken in the relative positions of the tents. No tents should be placed immediately next to the site entrance/exit. Leaders tents should be placed in between the ‘scouts’ tents and the entrance. If you have more than one leaders tents, then place them at either end of the line of tents. Otherwise all the tents that will be used for ‘living/sleeping’ should really be placed in the same area, rather than spread around the site.

A first aid tent should be provided for any camp under canvas. This first aid tent must not be used for anything other than first aid, no sleeping/storing etc. It should be clearly marked and a full first aid kit kept inside at all times.

If you have any storage tents you may want to place them closer to the areas where they will be used (e.g. the kitchen area).

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