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Abbeydore said:"So I'm taking a bag-a-day, so I've only got to walk a few yards out of the Albergue to fill my bag each morn. then come back to pick my own bag up. Good News.via the coloured bins :lol:
nc6000 said:Is there still as much of an issue with litter on the Camino Frances?
I see that this thread was started in 2010 and that various groups have made efforts to clean up the route since this discussion started. I'm starting my Camino in April and am horrified at the thought of walking the route while surrounded by piles of litter and excrement etc.
I would have thought in general that the type of person attracted to the Camino would respect the route and their environs.
Wow! I'm planning currently to take a roll of TP & those plastic doggy-poop bags to scoop my poo and paper just as I would my doggy's. Then dispose of it in a trash bin. I think, ideally, a pilgrimage is about accepting things that I would normally deem unacceptable, while giving my utmost effort to be a traveler who emulates Jesus in terms of accepting, & offering kindness to, others, including those unhappy, angry unfortunates along the way (of whom I will be one, at times). Imperfectly.letendre said:You have the conviction to be right, you think it is imperative you see your past accomplishments and future on the way to Compostela, you argue that tourists have no place on the way, you can not stand snorers or not hikers or promiscuity or in shelters or in the cathedral of Santiago, which you condemn commercialism of all providers who work with and for walkers.
But your message talk about details without importance.
The way of st james is not as you write
vagabondette said:I'll plan on picking up trash as I go along the camino now. Guess I should also bring some gloves as I don't intend to carry one of those handy picker-upper things like in the pic.
Rebekah Scott said:FYI, you don´t need to carry a load of bags with you. Your pilgrim albergue/hostel has tons of grocery carrier bags, left behind by preceding pilgrims. And you can use another plastic bag as a "glove," and throw both away once you´ve filled up the first. Saves on weight, gets more plastic out of circulation.
I think too much about trash.
Reb.
This reminds me of years ago when I said to my brother, "Our mother is interfering with my spiritual growth!" with her annoying reminders and advice. The irony was not lost on me, even as I said it!annakappa said:tyrrek said:letendre said:You have the conviction to be right, you think it is imperative you see your past accomplishments and future on the way to Compostela, you argue that tourists have no place on the way, you can not stand snorers or not hikers or promiscuity or in shelters or in the cathedral of Santiago, which you condemn commercialism of all providers who work with and for walkers.
But your message talk about details without importance.
The way of st james is not as you write
Keith
Since gregdedman wrote his lament, time has passed and the issues which he addressed were taken seriously, not only on this forum but also in various municipalities along the Camino Frances.gregdedman said:Throughout the 800km of the Camino Frances [I found]
- litter;
- graffiti vandalism
- human excrement
I would love to hear from anyone who would like to help with some sort of clean-up
I also welcome those who know they have littered or defecated and left remains or drawn graffiti to comment on their reasons why
I do want to hear your opinions, thoughts and ideas on what we can do as a collective.
THINK...the path will remain the way you leave it until someone comes along and cleans it up.
Good on ya! I just got home about an hour ago from Pamplona-SdC. Some places were impressively clear, possibly down to your efforts! Others were still bad. I worked on about 40kms overall, but sometimes just on one side of the road where it was dangerous to keep crossing over. I also got positive comments from people. The important thing is raising awareness by action, in my opinion.Tincatinker said:OK, so here I am on my Camino. And keeping my promise to litter pick every day. Have had some nice comments from people who have spotted what I am doing. The amazing thing is that although no one personally drops litter there is always litter for me to pick. For this I am grateful.
A short post from a cranky connection.
Buen Camino all
That surprises me a bit. I was there last week and it was bad. On some stetches elsewhere on the Camino you could walk 5kms fom village to village and clear practically eveything with just a plastic bag and a cut-off plastic bottle (to stuff the chocolate wrappers into). Very satisfying. After Sarria I thought you could only really focus on one spot/type of litter, and even then it would feel like a drop in the ocean. Plastic bottles seemed to be a particular problem on the later stages.Abbeydore said:Can report that there´s not much rubbish to pick up from Astorga to Santiago, found it very clean.
I'd avoid any kind of toilet tissue-related stuff if I were you, unless you're properly kitted out to deal with it. It's a bit frustrating, but I just left anything that looked like it could be toilet-related, even if it probably wasn't. That kind of stuff should gradually degrade. It's the plastics that last for ages.Tincatinker said:Anybody got any suggestions for picking up soggy tissues? My gloves got soaked this morning and its a cold, cold wind thats a-blowing.
Yes, Reb is right. Villages will always have the big bins that you can leave trash bags in. It's important to be realistic about what you can do. You're walking with a backpack, so you can't spend all day diving into ditches to pick up the odd scrap of paper. What you can do is when you find a plastic bag or bottle see it as an opportunity to fill it with whatever catches your eye and drop it off at the next pueblo. A normal sized plastic bag will only hold a few bottles, but if these bottles have been filled with cigarette and chocolate packets you've done a lot of good work! Not too heavy to carry either. Buen Camino!jemitch65 said:Hello All: I don't mean to "overthink" this, but when my trashbag is full, where do I dispose of it? It would not be my intention to make one big pile of trash from many by leaving it along the roadside as another pilgrim suggested. Who would pick it up? Would an alburgue take it when you check in?
Hi!caminocalling said:Do you think the mess is worse right after summer crowds..say late Aug./Sept ? This is something I would have to prepare myself mentally for. Im no shrinking violet...
Good to have you on board Ana!Asequeira10 said:I start my pilgrimmage from St Jean on 7th June and will be coming off in Burgos most probably and I also vow to pick up a bag of rubbish daily
Several things come to my mind:-ostend said:..........
A bit of a rant, but Spain...what's up with that!? There's a modern invention called porta-potty.
My own suggested solution would be the occasional 'long-drop' placed where there are no other facilities at all. Maybe dug in the places that are defaced by litter.
Excellent blog sillydoll.sillydoll said:My own suggested solution would be the occasional 'long-drop' placed where there are no other facilities at all. Maybe dug in the places that are defaced by litter.
You and I are on the same page! I sent a long report on the state of the Camino trails as regards litter and human waste to Ivar and to Johnnie Walker a few months ago suggesting that long-drops be erected on the Camino where pilgrims are already defecating in clearings and behind hedges.
I also wrote about it in April this year on my blog -
http://amawalker.blogspot.com/2012/08/t ... t-can.html
Most nature trails - and many wilderness trails - in the world use these with great success and I see no reason why they can't be used in Spain.
Testimony duly given. Morning mists along the Meseta with litter-picker in one hand and South African Confraternity bag in the other. I had a great time.Rebekah Scott said:Tyrrek will testify: It´s a heckuvva lot faster and easier with two or three people working, and it will give you an entirely new way to look at the camino.
Bring your own litter-grabbing device!
Hi charlesx.charlesx said:Bring your own litter-grabbing device!
I'm planning this trek starting in SJPP in April and will be more than willing to help with the litter picking (it wouldn't be a first time for me) but I don't really want to pack my own device from home. Is it possible for the same people at the albergues who provide the plastic bags to also have litter-picker devices available for purchase? Or does some other easily accessible place have them for sale? I would be happy to buy one - at a reasonable price. I don't think my back would last very long if I were constantly bending down to pick up trash while wearing a heavy backpack.
Is it possible to have these devices available for purchase and, if so, where?
I don't mind the cones, stones and photos so much. We sometimes feel the need to leave something of ourselves in important places. As long as it's not all in a plastic bag etc!!!falcon269 said:Many pilgrims seem to like to litter the tops of route markers with cones, stones, and photos. They seem to think it is some sort of tradition.
That is precisely what the tagger is doing with his graffiti -- "I was here, and that is important to me."We sometimes feel the need to leave something of ourselves in important places.
Yes, but as I said, that's just inane. I'm happy for people to leave something thoughtful that enriches the place rather than something that spoils it. It's all subjective, of course, but for example, someone leaving a photo/cross/stone etc that other people can enjoy, reflect upon and understand is great, and I certainly wouldn't remove it when litter picking.falcon269 said:That is precisely what the tagger is doing with his graffiti -- "I was here, and that is important to me."We sometimes feel the need to leave something of ourselves in important places.
A piece of road gravel placed on a mojone "enriches" the place? Yes, it is subjective. The tagger prefers his can of spray paint; a pilgrim prefers his magic marker; and the stacker likes his gravel. However, they all says the same thing: I was here. There isn't any real symbolism, just ego.I'm happy for people to leave something thoughtful that enriches the place rather than something that spoils it. It's all subjective, of course,
We'll probably disagree as usual.falcon269 said:A piece of road gravel placed on a mojone "enriches" the place? Yes, it is subjective. The tagger prefers his can of spray paint; a pilgrim prefers his magic marker; and the stacker likes his gravel. However, they all says the same thing: I was here. There isn't any real symbolism, just ego.I'm happy for people to leave something thoughtful that enriches the place rather than something that spoils it. It's all subjective, of course,
Like a dog raising a leg on a lamp post! It is marking its territory. There are a lot of religious admonitions against making prayer a public demonstration; one prays privately since public prayer is for the observer, not the one praying. The pebble is for the next pilgrim, not the one leaving it. The magic marker is just more permanent, but it too fades with time. I can see the symbolism of bringing a rock from home for the Iron Cross and adding it to the anonymous aggregation, but I see picking up a piece of road gravel and putting it on a mojone as a simple act of egotism. I am not a fan of the nationalistic symbol being left at the Cruz de Ferro. That, too, strikes me as an egotistical act of tribalism not in keeping with the tradition. :wink:Although in some ways it could be seen as selfish, it does no real harm
Well, just knock all the stones off the next time you're there, then! I'm sure everyone will thank you for such a noble deed. Buen Camino!falcon269 said:Like a dog raising a leg on a lamp post! It is marking its territory.
Would I have to take on the various burdens?just knock all the stones off
Ooh! That Falcon's got a right dirty mind! Buen Camino amigo!falcon269 said:Would I have to take on the various burdens?just knock all the stones off
I believe in "leave nothing but footprints" and in NZ a boot, rock or twig is usually enough to cover your traces - including yellow snow! For hygiene I usually carry a sanitary wipe in a ziplock bag inside a ziplock bag of toilet paper for handwashing and dispose of it each evening. I've never had any gastro troubles either. What is your spade made of? How heavy is it? How well does it work on the different soil types? I guess it needs its own ziplock as well.To the list of equipment needed: One small garden spade suitable for digging cat holes.
On trails where fire is a problem I carry used toilet paper (which cannot be burned in dry conditions) in a ziploc to be emptied at the next toilet. The ziploc bag tactic should work for anybody on the camino.
I believe in "leave nothing but footprints" and in NZ a boot, rock or twig is usually enough to cover your traces - including yellow snow! For hygiene I usually carry a sanitary wipe in a ziplock bag inside a ziplock bag of toilet paper for handwashing and dispose of it each evening. I've never had any gastro troubles either. What is your spade made of? How heavy is it? How well does it work on the different soil types? I guess it needs its own ziplock as well.
Mary
Yours is the most intelligent statement on this thread, thank you for taking the courage and time to write it.OK, I'm going to be a bit controversial here but there are so many different people on the camino that all kinds of opinions exist.
Firstly I'm with you on the litter I have no idea why people drop litter, some people are idiots but they do it everywhere not just on the camino. I would be happy to pick some up on the way and have done often enough. Don't just moan about it and photograph it walk over there pick it up and carry it to the next bin.
Secondly the graffiti - I LOVED the graffiti on the camino. Yes I did seriously. Honestly it makes the journey special for me, I love reading all the little messages, I've got some photos or some stunning art work or even little funny saying or sketches. I even like the tagging, it's nice following people - oh look Carlos has been here again etc... I think the camino would be a poorer place without the graffiti - i'm sorry you don't feel that way but people have been leaving graffiti for much longer than the camino existed and it seems to be a natural human urge to leave a mark of oneself behind. I also like how it changes en-route, some of the writing on the back of the toilet door in the albergue in Fisterra was the most profound philosophy I've ever read, truly, my life would've been different if it wasn't there!!
Now to the most unpleasant the toilet roll. Again controversially.. on a purely personal note the toilet roll is kinda useful. Let's face it people are going to go to the toilet en-route. The only good thing about the unpleasant and unsightly toilet roll is that at least it lets you know WHERE they've done it! As someone who not only likes to sit by the trail but occasionally wild camp by it I would say the toilet roll piles are an excellent indicator of where NOT to go. It would be a whole lot harder to know where to plonk myself down if the toilet roll patches were missing. I agree they're horrible but if the alternative is sniffing the ground and checking whether I've sat down or slept on something damp and smelly then I'm not that keen on that either. Of course in an ideal world we'd all be burying it or taking it away but this is not an ideal world...
Also before you vilify me, i've always cleaned up after myself, often cleaning the camping spot of other people's litter as well but I'm not going to promise I haven't graffitied!
"Most intelligent statement"? "Courage" Ummm, nah.....Yours is the most intelligent statement on this thread, thank you for taking the courage and time to write it.
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