This is a general statement of backcountry exploring, camping, rafting, and so much more. What you take with you, you take out with you, including trash. Whenever you go, it is so important to take the trash and food and things that you use with you, and not leave it to biodegrade in nature. Check out this article about the Pacific Crest trail and trash. Did you know that it takes up to 8 years for a banana peel to biodegrade out in nature??? That is a very long time.

Think about how long it takes a plastic tampon applicator, or a cotton used pad or tampon to do the same thing? And so many of us have seen trash along side the road, on backcountry trails, at campgrounds, and so much more. The places that I have noticed trash left is in forest service bathrooms. They are often located at campgrounds, or before trails and the bathrooms are brown and very simple. They have a composting toilet system, toilet paper (some of the time) and they have few if any other amenities. Some, may have a plastic mirror, others have a hand sanitizing gel, and all of them have this one sign:

• And more often than not, I see trash next to the toilet, inside of the toilet or sometimes in a bag hanging on the door or outside of the bathroom if it is locked. After so many trips, camping or rafting and traveling in the backcountry, it became so apparent. Women, especially are being left out of this system, or since humans cannot handle a small trash can in National Forest bathrooms without either stealing it or stuffing it full of their own trash from camping or cleaning their car out, women are left with no where to dispose of used tampons or pads when using the bathroom. I understand that it can be very difficult for the Forest Service to keep these bathrooms clean all the time, and I also understand that it is unlikely to think that they would install trash receptacles only for small trash pieces, when it would be used incorrectly by the thousands or millions of people that use these bathrooms each year.

That is why we started the idea and created Ladybitz Bag. Bring the bag with you wherever you go, and stock it full of toilet paper, hand sanitizer and all of your hygiene needs. You can this dispose of your used trash in the patent-pending trash disposing pocket, and when you return home you can dispose of it in your own trash.

Even just yesterday, my family and I went on a small hike on a trail not far from home. This is where I took that picture with the sign, No Trash Allowed. This toilet also had no toilet paper, and I was so glad that I had my bag with me, ready to go.

Help keep trash out of the facilities and keep our trails and National Forest land cleaner. Every little bit helps.