How should human waste be disposed of when camping on Maine islands?

• A. Bury deep in woods
• B. Pour down a storm drain
• C. Pack out or bury above high tide
• D. Flush into water

Answer: (C)

Protecting water quality and coastal ecosystems means keeping human waste out of the ocean and away from places where it can contaminate groundwater or shellfish beds. On Maine islands, the best practice is to pack out your waste whenever possible, or dispose on site only by digging a cathole above the high tide line and burying the waste there, deep enough to limit exposure and pathogens, and far from water sources. This placement prevents tides and storms from washing waste back into the water and minimizes impact on the island environment. Flushing into water, pouring into storm drains, or burying waste in beach sand near water would contaminate the ocean and wildlife, so those options aren’t appropriate. Packing out remains the simplest, most protective approach when camping on isolated islands.