Understanding solid human waste management by mountaineers in Aotearoa New Zealand: A segmentation approach

Human waste management in montane and protected wilderness areas poses environmental and cultural challenges, including hygiene, aesthetics and the sacredness of specific mountains to Indigenous peoples. This study surveyed 461 mountaineers in Aotearoa New Zealand, to understand their current human waste management practices and any factors influencing the adoption of the best management practice of ‘pack in, pack out’. The most popular management technique was digging a hole and burying (cathole), followed by ‘pack in, pack out’ and collecting then disposing at hut facilities. We identified four groups within the mountaineer community using Latent Profile Analysis – Occasional Young Adventurer, Young Active & Ambitious, Seasoned Mountaineer, and Occasional Veteran. Seasoned Mountaineers were most likely to carry out their waste. The top barriers to carrying out waste were awareness of products, perceived negative leakage consequences, reliance on hut facilities and perceived lack of personal responsibility. Recommendations include targeted education, policy strategies, and guidance from organizations like Leave No Trace, and incorporating Indigenous perspectives. We acknowledge that while waste carry-out practices mitigate local environmental and cultural impacts, the burden shifts to landfills, highlighting the need for sustainable solutions that address the broader impacts of human waste.