An examination of the relative breakdown rates of unused toilet paper, facial tissues and tamponswas undertaken in nine different environments
typical of Tasmanian natural areas.Bags of the paper products (toilet paper, facial tissues, tampons) were buried for periods of 6, 12 and 24months
at depths of 5 and 15 cm.Anutrient solution simulating human bodywasteswas added to half of the samples, to test the hypothesis that the addition
of nutrients would enhance the breakdown of paper products buried in the soil. Mean annual rainfall was the most important measured variable
determining mean breakdown in the nutrient addition treatment between sites, with high rainfall sites (mean annual rainfall of greater than
650 mm) recording less decayed products than the drier sites (mean annual rainfall of 500–650 mm). Temperature and soil organic content were
important influences on the breakdown of the unfertilised products. Toilet paper and tissues decayedmore readily than tampons.Nutrient addition
enhanced decay for all products across all sites. Depth of burialwas not important in determining the degree to which products decayed. In alpine
environments, burial under rocks at the surface did not increase the speed of decay of any product.TheWesternAlpine site, typical of alpine sites in
the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area, showed very little decay over the two-year period, even for nutrient enhanced products.
Management prescriptions should be amended to dissuade people from depositing human toilet waste in the extreme (montane to alpine)
environments in western Tasmania. Tampons should continue to be carried out as currently prescribed.