The Custer Gallatin National Forest has found its pumping costs for latrines rising considerably over the last few years. Part of the problem is that more people are recreating on the forest so more people are using the vault toilets, meaning they need more frequent pumping. Another part of the issue is that some folks are tossing garbage into the latrines, which makes it impossible for many sewage management companies to find a place to dump the waste. In more remote areas, the BLM’s Billings Field Office is considering using a new type of toilet that can help cut down on the amount of waste and therefore how often it needs to be cleaned out. To read more about this unique side-effect of Montana’s growing popularity, check out my story at Montana Untamed. http://montanauntamed.com/get-outside/article_f2cfce11-0a6d-5707-a94e-60abbf8b9810.html
(written by Brett French – Outdoors Editor of the Billings Gazette/Montana Untamed)