Wet pit

A wet pit (also called a grease trap) is used in a campsite as a defined place to dispose of wash water and wet food waste (solids and liquids from cleaning pots). The aim is to have a mini-compost pit where scraps of food can be thrown away.

Dig a hole around 30 to 50cm, and about 20 cm deep - (keep the turf/surface layer intact and put aside carefully).

• Cover the bottom of the pit with a layer of grass/ leaves. This layer should be refreshed daily.

Using the wet pit

The wet pit is where all the soapy water from the wash basins is disposed.
Take care not to accidentally throw away cutlery.
A black plastic bag can be used to cover the pit to prevent attracting flies.

This is not for discarding glass, plastic, tins

Positioning of wet pit

The wet pit should:

• Not be positioned near a river or stream,
• Be conveniently close to the cooking area,
• Away from busy parts of the camp, like the cooking area or washing stand.

When the camp is over, the wet pit should be filled in with the soil removed and the turf/surface layer should be replaced to completely disguise any traces

When not to use a wet pit

In some campsites, digging a wet pit may not be allowed or appropriate. Public campsites or caravan parks may require food scraps or liquid waste to be disposed of by other means. Hawequas Scout campsite does not allow wet pits or tent drainage trenches to be dug because the local soil is very prone to erosion once disturbed by digging.