INSPIRE DISPOSAL
Talking about human waste is awkward, but we've never shied away from it. We're proud to lead honest, sometimes silly, always effective conversations that help visitors know exactly what to do when nature calls. Your support keeps that conversation going, protecting Moab's trails and waters one Wag Bag at a time.
MOAB HUMAN WASTE INITIATIVE
The Moab Human Waste Initiative is a countywide, multi-agency campaign led by Steward Moab to protect Moab's trails, creeks, and public lands from the health and environmental impacts of improperly disposed human waste. Since 2023, Steward Moab has partnered with local, state, and federal agencies to build a unified disposal and education system, using WAG Bags, trail ambassador conversations, the "Poop with a Plan" poster campaign, and the Report A Poo app to change how visitors manage waste in the backcountry. The initiative has diverted tons of waste from Moab's public lands and educated countless trail users across hiking, mountain biking, climbing, and OHV/4x4.
Keep the Landscape and Waterways Healthy
FECAL
MATTERS
Help reduce pollution in Moab's creeks, rivers, and red rock recreation areas.
Poop with a Plan
There are more places to explore than there are to poop. Unless you have a WAG bag!
No One Wants to See a Human Hoodoo
This rugged landscape is more fragile than you think. Let's keep it healthy together!
TONS DIVERTED
Since launching, the Human Waste Initiative has diverted over 30 tons of human waste from Moab's public lands, a result made possible through close partnership and collaboration across the region. This milestone reflects what's possible when a community works together: cleaner trails, healthier waterways, and public lands protected for everyone who calls Moab home, even for a day.
CONVERSATIONS
Through direct, on-trail engagement, Steward Moab has documented over 10,000 conversations with visitors about human waste and proper disposal practices on Moab's public lands. Every conversation is a chance to turn a moment of confusion into lasting stewardship, one visitor at a time.
BUSINESSES
40 local businesses have joined the campaign, displaying posters and tagging Wag Bags with proper disposal locations to help visitors do the right thing before they even reach the trailhead. Their participation shows what's possible when a community rallies around a shared commitment to protecting Moab's public lands.
POOP WITH A PLAN
We all do it. But what's the best way?
Dealing with your waste is an important part of your Moab adventure. Here are the top three best options when you need to go:
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Outhouses
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Portable toilets
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WAG bags
Your best bet is the outhouses at the trailhead. We encourage portable toilets when camping and WAG bags when hiking - you never know when the coffee might strike!
Pack it out.
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Take portable toilets to dump stations.
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Take WAG bags to a waste station or identified container in Moab.
Please don't put WAG bags or trash in outhouses.
Why it matters. Catholes don't work in the desert - human waste doesn't break down the way it does in the forest. With so little water in this landscape, buried poop and toilet paper break down very slowly and can carry pathogens that spread disease. That "poop hoodoo" could still be there years to come. Grand County asks that everyone pack out human waste - don't leave it, and don't bury it.
Poop with a plan. Thank you for taking the time to pack out your waste - it's a small effort that makes a big difference for Moab's waterways, trails, and the visitors who come after you.
What is a
WAG Bag?
Waste Aggregated Gel (WAG) bags are multi-bag systems that contain enzymes to break down human waste, making it easier to pack out and safely dispose of.
BUY A
WAG BAG
Arches NP Bookstore | Visitor Center
Canyonlands National Park | Visitor Center
Dead Horse Point State Park | Visitor Center
Navtec | 321 N. Main Street
Pagan Mountaineering | 211 N. Main Sreet
Moab Information Center | 25 E. Center Street
Moab Gear Trader | 300 S. Main St.
GearHeads Outdoor Store | 471 S. Main Street
Solgear | 420 Kane Creek Blvd
Wild West Voyages | 422 Kane Creek Blvd
Climb Moab | 11850 S. Hwy 191
DISPOSE A WAG BAG
Disposal Locations
Lions Park | 1850 N. Hwy 191
Grand County Transit Hub | Across from Lions Park
Southeast Utah Health Department | 575 Kane Creek Blvd
Canyonlands Transfer Station | 2295 S. Hwy 191
**Note: WAG bags only. No groovers, DIY WAG bags, pet waste bags, ziplocks with cat litter, grocery bags, etc.
Why separate disposal?
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To keep track of total human waste collected
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To avoid high concentrations of waste in one area
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To keep human waste out of garbage bins and trucks
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To ensure sanitation worker safety during pickup
POOP PICTURES
Help us identify areas impacted by human and dog waste on Moab's trails and public lands. Over the next two years, we're building a comprehensive database of waste hotspots across the region, data that will guide us as we identify and implement real solutions. Every report you submit helps us respond faster, target our resources where they're needed most, and keep Moab's trails and waterways healthy for the people, pets, and wildlife who depend on them.
