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Pack it in, pack it out

jazzhorse

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
2021
To all fellow pilgrims, I wish to say that my first Camino (Portuguese Coastal) was wonderful and I am still processing the many
blessings. However, I was very sad to see one thing: many tissues and wipes on the ground where people stepped off the route to relieve themselves. Please, let's all do our part to "leave no trace" and encourage others to do the same. God's creation is so beautiful and we are all called to care for it.
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
It is a positive thing that this Forum has discussed this topic many times over the years and has always garnered strong support for the 'leave no trace' philosophy. Unfortunately, the target population that needs to be reached on this issue likely doesn't read the Forum.
 
Last edited:
Totally agree, @davebugg. Sometimes good to have a place to voice our feelings. Any ideas anyone on a solution to the problem?
 
Camino Preparation Guide
The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
Sue127 said:
Totally agree, @davebugg. Sometimes good to have a place to voice our feelings. Any ideas anyone on a solution to the problem?
Click to expand...
Ideas? Sure. .

Since this is not just a Spanish domestic issue but also an international problem that is imported into Spain, we could convince each nation with a population of Camino-walking pilgrims to take a long term mass media / education approach to anti-litter and backpacking's 'Leave No Trace' ethic.

On arrival into Spain, each international Pilgrim can head directly to a copy shop and have 100 flyers printed up encouraging a Poop-Paper Free Camino. Then from the first alburgue and pilgrim oriented bar onward, ask to put one up on a message board area.

Find out who the Spanish not-for-profit environmental groups are which have a dedicated anti-littering campaign. Convince them to include messaging for a Poop-Paper Free Camino as part of any campaigns.

Take graphic shots of heavily used 'nature break' areas which are thick with Poop-Paper, then forward them on to news agencies with an explanation of the problem.

Take your flyers and pick a spot on the Camino Frances. On a nearby tree, have a Big Poster Board Photo showing a camino pile of Poop-Papers with a (clothed) pilgrim dropping their Poop-Paper onto the litter pile. A big label underneath would read "Don't Be That Guy" Then spend a few hours greeting passing pilgrims with a flyer and a Snickers Bar.
 
Yes, we have had discussions about porta-potties, installing toilets along the route, clean-up campaigns, etc. As @davebugg implies, no solutions are simple or quick, and some may be worse than the problem.
 
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Could not agree more. All it takes is a sealable plastic bag.
 
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