For many of you Labor Day weekend represents the last chance of the year for a mini-camping vacation, so I thought it would be good to share some tips on how to green your camping. Of course these tips apply whether you’re a frequent camper or just an occasional one. And if you’ve never been camping before but have considered it or are planning to, then this is a great opportunity to do it right from the get go.
A lot of the same principles that apply to other types of travel apply to camping as well. Travel as light as possible, bring only the necessities with you, pack re-usable and double-duty items wherever possible, and most important, leave no footprint behind –meaning no trail of waste that others have to deal or that might not be handled in an environmentally responsible way.
The key things to pay attention to are your consumption of energy, water, and food with an eye towards minimizing or eliminating unnecessary pollution and litter. You need to plan ahead for how to handle the waste you produce. Here are some basic DOs and DON’Ts:
DON’T bring plastic water bottles. This is one of the biggest contributors to pollution –both in the manufacturing of the bottles and in their disposal. Bring one large capacity water carrier (preferably PVC-free) that can fold up small when not in use. Fill it with water from a spigot and use it to fill your re-usable stainless steel or BPA-free water bottles.
DO bring re-usable silverware, cups and plates (aluminum, stainless steel or BPA-free plastic). Using disposable plates and cutlery is a lot more convenient because it doesn’t require washing and drying, but it can create a tremendous amount of waste.
DON’T leave your trash or recyclables behind. Place garbage and recyclables in designated receptacles. If there are none, then collect and take them with you until you’re able to dispose of them properly. This especially applies to used batteries or spent fuel canisters. And except for paper items that can be tossed into a campfire, NEVER burn your trash –especially plastics because that is toxic to you and the environment.
DO use biodegradable soaps and detergents. If you plan to shower outdoors or wash your dishes then be sure to use biodegradable soaps to avoid polluting the grounds. Wherever possible toss your dishwater down a drain instead of directly onto the dirt.
DO use a solar shower instead of the local facility. These cost very little and can be purchased anywhere camping supplies are sold. All you have to do is fill it with water and hang it up somewhere in the sun. After a few hours of exposure –voila! You have hot (or at a minimum, warm) water to shower with or to wash your dishes with. If you want to be really green try this PVC-Free 4 Gallon Solar Shower from Seattle Sports.
DON’T idle your car if you’re car camping because the exhaust is polluting and can disturb other campers. If you need power to charge up your gadgets then buy solar-powered chargers.
DO stay in designated camping areas and on designated hiking trails. Designated areas are designed to minimize potential or unintended damage and harm to surrounding nature
DO invest in LED flashlights, headlamps, and lanterns as these are last longer, offer brighter light and far more efficient use of battery power. Whenever possible use re-chargeable batteries and don’t ever leave used batteries behind. If you have the funds to invest then consider solar-powered lights like the ones featured in this My Life Scoop blog post. Also consider a hand-cranked flashlight or combination radio and flashlight which are less expensive than solar-powered gadgets.
Finally, if you don’t plan to camp a lot (i.e more than a couple of times a year), consider buying second-hand equipment (tents, sleeping bags, stoves, etc.).
While the term “eco-tourism” tends to conjure up images of what some refer to as “volunteer vacations” where you might be involved in a beach clean up project or wildlife preservation program, you really don’t have to sacrifice comfort or go for an adventure in the wild to do it. There are as many different ways to green your travel, as there are ways to travel. It’s all a matter of degree and commitment.
