How To Go Zero Waste Camping
Camping can leave a big negative impact on our beautiful parks and wilderness if we're not careful. Our team loves being outdoors, which means we camp when we can! We had the opportunity to stay at Presqu'ile PP, Sandbanks PP , Killbear PP, Fundy NP, and La Mauricie NP this summer, and we're just getting packed up to stay at Darlington Provincial Park this coming weekend. We're careful about the things we bring and do our best to camp waste free. Wondering what you can do to make your camping trip a little greener? Here are a few tips from our team:
BYO Dishes & Cutlery
It’s almost too easy to throw a package of paper plates and a sleeve of red solo cups into our camping bags. We replace these items with reusable plates (usually the durable enamelware as many campsites don’t allow glass or ceramic), and some utensils and tools from our kitchen drawer.
Reusable Napkins
Microfibre cloths or cloth napkins are a good substitute to paper napkins. They're great for wiping your hands, doing the dishes, or wrapping up snacks. They do require to be washed at the end of your trip, but create a lot less waste compared to standard paper napkins or paper towels.
Pre-Pack Your Food
Pre-packing your food in reusable containers, then storing them in a cooler is a great way to avoid additional camping waste. You don't have to worry about taking out the garbage and it also keeps critters out of your food. Many camper-friendly snacks can be purchased package-free, at stores like Bulk Barn that offer reusable jar programs. This way, from store-to-campsite, you’re litter free!
Borrow Things You Don't Have
If you don’t own an axe, ask a friend or family member if you can borrow one! You can also find many camping items at second hand stores, like Value Village or borrow/rent them from places like Toronto Outdoor. We’re bringing waste to a different level here – reuse items when you can instead of buying them new. It keeps stuff out of the landfill, reduces packaging, and saves you a bit of cash!