[Closed] Been dropping litter recently?

I had to laugh at this in the comments

Well thank you very much. That’s my last chance of finding my way back totally buggered. Do you have any idea how hard it was to peel those damned tangerines while being dragged up that path by my woodcutter father? No, of course you don’t. You are only interested in making an example of me and worrying about snow. I tell you, if I ever find my way off this bloody hill (no thanks to you) I’ll be writing to ms MSP about this.

It's bloody ridiculous. And I think we've more ahead as people are disconnected from nature and wild places.

Good effort mr_sais

Appealing for the appalling.

Clearly just marking out the pith of least resistance.

So is are Hansel & Gretel still out there no lost cold & hungery cos someone removed their trail?

I've had arguments with friends who maintain that it's ok to drop things like orange peel cos it's 'natural'. I used to think the same TBH but I've updated my thinking.

Pretty sure it would count as 'natural' if you were strolling through an orange grove. In the northern mountains not so much.

When people say “it’s natural” are they really saying “it’s biodegradable”? Lots of people are too ignorant of nature.

Thing is, it isn't a casual "picnic with the family type of person" up there at this time of year.I thought there had been a change of attitude after the stories about rubbish on Ben Nevis.

How is the peal a problem ? Will it not just degrade in a short time and end up putting nutrients, nitrates or something back in the soil ?

I bung apple cores in the hedge if I'm on a ride - is that the wrong thing to do ?

Up on the high mountains it will take years to degrade and also changes the soil type over time if many folk do it

As for apple cares in the hedges - not so bad as some apple trees might grow - all along highland line are apple trees growing but again will take a while to degrade

But the mantra must be. take nothing but photos leave nothing but footprints ( or tyre tracks)

Oh, so its an issue at altitude then. I see.

So bunging your peal, apple cores etc in a hedge should not be a problem.

Nope - still an issue. You have to think about what would be the outcome if everyone did it. It will still take time to degrade but yes the issue are less acute lower down but do not go away.

Its littering pure and simple

and also changes the soil type over time if many folk do it

now you are just taking the pith.

There's also places like Cairngorm that have very particular and sensitive ecosystems and it doesn't take much to throw them off kilter apparently.

When people say “it’s natural” are they really saying “it’s biodegradable”?

I think that's the thought process yeah.

So bunging your peal

I think it's time we rang the bell on all forms of littering.

I would never discard citrus peel anywhere, it's very slow to rot. Apple cores, I think, are quite quick, at low altitude, and are about the only thing I've ever chucked; I don't do it now.

We talk about education and enforcement a lot with regard to littering, supplying bins in appropriate places and encouraging those to take rubbish away with them, unfortunately it seems we increasingly live in an age where 'you can't tell me what to do mate' and 'freedom loving Brits' can with impunity and scant regard for the natural world literally do what they want.

We have the same issues at much lower levels (of height and humanity)

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Why drop any leftovers? If you've carried the entire item prior to eating surely you can spare the energy required to carry the bits you didn't eat?

Was going to post the same as slowoldman. Unfortunately there are lots of people who don’t realise the damage that can be caused and more that simply don’t care.

Banana skins take about 2 years to biodegrade and more if they get frozen for a period. I used to chuck mine off of climbing routes into the surrounding hills, thinking they would be gone in a few weeks. Rotten behaviour in hindsight.

If you take it there full, be it fruit, bottled water, crisp packets, beer cans... theres always less to take home anyway.

Lazy ****ers! Makes my shit itch.

Edit: same for those that leave bags of rubbish next to bins when they are full. Just the them home in your car and put them in your bin at home. Maybe even sort the recyclables out.....

@Mister-P Chapeau!

Makes my shit itch.

You should probably see chemist and get something for that. Maybe work on your hand washing regimen as well. Just saying...

Makes my shit itch.

Just remember to bury it and burn the toilet paper.

Ach, while we're on the general subject, can I also express my anger at the folk who go camping and think its OK to dump their coffee grounds around the place? Take them home with you or find a bin!

Shine a light - thats ones me ( when wild camping) No bins up in the hills. Its the only thing I do not carry out apart from shit

Chew them for the extra hit.

Its the only thing I do not carry out apart from shit

why not. pretty sure enough shit will change the soil type..

Ach, while we’re on the general subject, can I also express my anger at the folk who go camping and think its OK to dump their coffee grounds around the place? Take them home with you or find a bin!

Not sure if serious or not, but... really?

It's not unheard of for me to dump coffee grounds in my garden.

As a wise man once said

You have to think about what would be the outcome if everyone did it.

why not. pretty sure enough shit will change the soil type..

correct it will if enough concentrated in an area - and an outbreak of e coli traced to people shitting near a bothy and its water supply. One of the reasons i don't use bothies or go to honeypot wild camp sites. I believe some folk do carry out shit nowadays but thats a step too far for me right now.

Fudge - does that mean I have to carry my coffee grounds out?

I believe some folk do carry out shit nowadays but thats a step too far for me right now.

It will take a major step change to get people to dispose of dog mess properly, in places they walk every day, never mind to carry out their own poo from remote places.

Fudge – does that mean I have to carry my coffee grounds out?

I don't see how orange peels are bad but coffee grounds and shits are OK?

You have to think about what would be the outcome if everyone did it.

Generally better soil quality in campsites? Which for the most part aren't in conservation areas?

5plus8 its about speed of degradation and of course the shit is buried but as you can see i am thinking about changing my actions

Aidy - again its a good test - if one person does it could everyone? If everyone does it then its piles of coffee grounds everywhere

Edit - I must confess I have never found coffee grounds from anyone else out in the countryside. I have seen piles of shit and litter - one memorable occasion camping up at the top of the Torridon passes we found a plastic bag of obvious camping rubbish under a rock - now that was not neds as we were miles from anywhere. Needless to say it was carried out by us

You have to think about what would be the outcome if everyone did it.

Generally better soil quality in campsites? Which for the most part aren’t in conservation areas?

TBH, campsites generally have bins. Wild camp spots are often in "conservation" areas.

TBH, campsites generally have bins.

I go out of my way to not put green waste in landfill. I've not seen that many campsites with green waste bins (which is weird, now I think about it).

Just take your rubbish out with you.

That's all it needs.

I have just been trying to find data about coffee grounds. It would appear that landfilling them is not great either - burning or composting them seems the best disposal method ( so long as you do something with the heat if you burn)

Often recommended as a soil improver in gardens - but this means in upland areas with poor soils they should not be dumped

Hmmmmmmmmmmm - anyone got an data?
Scotroutes - I guess that you have seen this as an issue?

Or stop drinking coffee. Its hardly the world's most ecological (or often ethical) product 😈

walking back from town today watched some women using the litter bin to dispose of her dog crap.

I have just been trying to find data about coffee grounds. It would appear that landfilling them is not great either

Not just coffee grounds, landfilling green waste is terrible.

Or stop drinking coffee. Its hardly the world’s most ecological (or often ethical) product

Burn the heretic.

Burn the heretic.

Remember to carry out the ashes though.

oh come on surely ash is good for the soil? Don't tell me all those forest fires I've been lighting haven't been a positive thing for the soil???

walking back from town today watched some women using the litter bin to dispose of her dog crap.

Will depend on local authority, but up here there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I’ve not seen that many campsites with green waste bins (which is weird, now I think about it).

Some Local Authorities collect it, others treat everything from a business as 'commercial waste' and don't segregate it, as I understand it.

walking back from town today watched some women using the litter bin to dispose of her dog crap.

I'm curious, where else would you prefer she put it? If she took it home it would end up in the same waste stream.

If its an argument about a bin man having to empty it by hand, the red bins get emptied the exact same way.

@tjagain - how about using those coffee bags rather than ground coffee?
They'd be easier to stick in a bag after use and take home?

Those coffee bags are individually foil wrapped and are made of plastic. Not sure they are a more environmentally friendly option. They don't make a decent brew either.

No way I am using coffee bags. Reduce. reuse. recycle. Coffee bags fail at the first of those

Why not just suggest instant coffee, so that there are no grounds? :p

The humanity!

But yeah, less kit to lug about as well. No press/pot and no grinder (if you're not grinding them fresh then frankly you're all talk).

Bags aren't completely plastic but if you compost them you are left with little husks that need filtered out.

The coffee press attachment to my jetboil adds 8g, Of course I carry ground coffee - weighs less with all the air in it!

coffee bags are so 70s anyway