Serge the "Garbage" man

[LTfit]

Yesterday the Frenchman Serge stayed with us in Ponferrada where I am working as a hospitalera. With his permission I am posting his picture and telling of his experience picking up garbage along the Camino Francés.

He is an exemplary pilgrim who cleans up the Camino on a daily basis - day in, day out. In rain or shine. During 2018 alone he has disposed of more than 200 large garbage bags of debris, debris that we pilgrims throw away.

He is so dedicated that he records how many bags he fills every day in a book. He has also written various Camino associations suggesting a method to maintain the Camino clean but no one seems interested as he has never received an answer.

Let's help Serge keep the Camino clean and pick up after ourselves. While we're at it why not pick up anything we see along the way.

Bravo Serge!

 

[AllanHG]

Thank you to Serge and others like him who work so hard to clean up the Caminos. So far, I have walked the Camino Frances, Portuguese and St. Olav's Way and found the Camino Frances to be the worst for garbage and human waste - likely because it is the busiest but still unnecessary.

Although plastic bottles, food wrap, etc leave a mess, the human waste and toilet paper was the most offensive and hazardous to health. Also, with the number of cafes along the way, it is by and large unnecessary. Minimally, dig a hole for your feces and put your toilet paper in a bag and dispose it when you get to a garbage can/facility. Even better, bag your feces and take it with you.

We have the privilege of walking through these beautiful countries with gracious and hospitable people and we leave behind our messes. We wouldn't do that in our own backyards so why do we think it is okay to do it in theirs?

 

[OzAnnie]

Always very impressed with all the ‘pickerupperers’.,
They are awesome and really ‘walk the walk’.
Thankyou Serge and all the Ditch pigs, their organisers, and those that make the effort quietly and unreported. It is much appreciated.

 

[Colette Z]

A huge thank you to Serge. As a Canadian I was taught since primary school not to litter and at 60 still cannot litter. I just don’t understand those who brlieve others can clean up after them.

 

[Former member 59618]

Incredible that Camino associations haven’t answered him or shown interest in his suggestions.

 

[LTfit]

I would like to add another personal note about Serge. He actually taught me a great lesson, one which was important to learn as a hospitalera. When he came in late in the evening I looked at his credential and questioned whether he was walking the Camino or just wanted a cheap place to sleep. He was walking backwards he said and it was difficult to see where he had slept the day before. I didn't say anything. Only in the morning did he tell me his story. The Camino teaches us something every day. We just need to take the time to listen.

 

[Doug Delfeld]

Wow, LTfit
You have touched a subject that hit me on my last CF on 2017. Yes , Serge is my hero because he has done something about which so many of us only observe and go on observing but do little about.
Last camino I pledged to start carrying a clear plastic bag on my backpack .
So. This April we walk the CP with my plastic bag displayed on my pack to remind others to be more respectful of the privilege of walking in history.