Hikers Given Trowels to Dig Their Own Toilets

As people look for safe, outdoor activities to get them out of the house during the pandemic, hiking and camping has become popular. Increased numbers of people heading out into the wilderness has created a new problem—lack of public restrooms.

When this problem came up in the Scottish Highlands, a local government council found a creative solution. They bought 90 plastic trowels and distributed these digging tools to lay-bys, paved areas at the side of highways that provide for emergency parking and may have food vendors or public telephones. The council is hoping that motorists stopping at these lay-bys on the way to the Highlands will take these trowels and use them to dig a latrine.

Along with finding more trowels to put in the lay-bys, council members plan to leave maps which show the locations of the nearest public toilets. They are hoping more public restrooms will be available next year.

Numerous regions of the Scottish Highlands have reported “dirty camping,” with people leaving tents and garbage behind, as well as human waste. Local authorities are urging visitors to plan ahead for toilet breaks so they can leave behind only footprints.