Privy Replacement Progress
Apr 3, 2026
Managing human waste responsibly at backcountry Appalachian Trail (A.T.) overnight sites is a priority and opportunity for the A.T. cooperative management system.
Across the Trail, Clubs, land managers, and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC) share the goals of: reducing water contamination, limiting disease transmission, decreasing degradation of natural areas, improving the safety and ease of maintaining the structures, and enhancing the hiker’s experience of privies.
A.T. privies have come a long way since the early batch bin composting systems that were developed and installed in the 1970’s by AMC, GMC, and the USFS in New England. Since then, improvements to privy structures have improved: accessibility, hiker use, ease of construction, and made the routine maintenance required easier and more efficient.
GMC's Bromley Shelter Batch Bin Privy
These significant efforts by clubs, land managers, and ATC in improving backcountry sanitation are ongoing:
Appalachian Mountain Club’s (AMC) Western Massachusetts and Connecticut Chapters’ A.T. Committees and the ATC are working with a contracted engineer to develop Architectural Barriers Act (ABA)-compliant designs that will be used across MA & CT to support six privy replacements. Once designs are completed, the new moldering units should be installed by 2031.
Maine Appalachian Trail Club (MATC) is on schedule to replace all of their existing pit privies with moldering units by the end of the 2029 field season. Three more are scheduled for replacement in 2026.
MATC Pleasant Pond Lean-to Moldering Privy
Over 30 pit privies will be replaced with moldering units along the Virginia section of the A.T. by 2031. The ATC is currently working with an engineer to help designs move through the USDA Forest Service review process and expects that work will begin on initial new privy installation in 2026.
cover page of a draft plan set