An effective solution to trash? Maybe someday. :-)

[VNwalking]

Before I sign off tonight I cannot resist sharing this (and admitting to gleeful schadenfreude):

Spanish police order man who threw fridge off cliff to drag it back up – video

Man who joked about recycling as he tipped fridge over cliff is made to haul it back up by Spanish authorities, who shared footage of his labour on social media

www.theguardian.com

Now about that toilet paper, folks?

 

[nidarosa]

Oh, regarding the toilet paper ... surely everybody can manage to bring a few doggy poop bags, they weigh nothing and would fit nicely in a backpack hip pocket, bum bag or trouser pocket, then just pop the used TP into the bag, tie up, tuck away until you find a bin - job done. If you don't have a dog, ask someone who does for one, or find another small bag to take for this purpose. Pleeeease ...?

 

[Marbe2]

Great Post VNwalking! And terrific consequences! With regard to comment by nidarosa.... carry out what you carry in. If you want to help out but cannot do it in person maybe donate to Rebekah Scott at

peaceable projects

www.peaceableprojects.org

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Before I sign off tonight I cannot resist sharing this (and admitting to gleeful schadenfreude):

Spanish police order man who threw fridge off cliff to drag it back up – video

Man who joked about recycling as he tipped fridge over cliff is made to haul it back up by Spanish authorities, who shared footage of his labour on social media

www.theguardian.com

Now about that toilet paper, folks?

Was about to post that myself - sublime justice!

 

[VNwalking]

We laugh - and I posted this as a joke. But it does work.
When I was about 8 and didn't have any sense that it wasn't OK to toss trash off the trail, one day I did. Fortunately, the scout leader saw me, and everyone stopped while I scrambled down through the dense ferns to pick up the trash I'd flung over the edge. I was suitably mortified, and the lesson really stuck.

 

[Marbe2]

Usually, when I see someone drop trash...if I think they dropped it purposely, I tell them...” Oh, I think you just lost something” ...responses vary including gratefulness, embarrassed, annoyed, or completely non responsive. Sometimes, depending on the circumstances, I will pick it up...but if they throw things over a hill, I do not go after it...past that age!

 

[peregrina2000]

I think this also is a great indicator of how much the role of the Guardia Civil has changed in Spanish society. Much more of a positive force in the community than when they strolled around looking menacing and with machine guns slung over their shoulders.

 

[lt56ny]

Carry some baby wipes. There are lots that are bio-degradable. Put them in a zip baggie when you are done in the proper container. They are also great for sticky hands and faces.

 

[Icacos]

Someone who works in building maintenance told me that those ‘bio-degradable’ wipes are actually not bio-degradable at all and should not be flushed down a toilet. They will eventually cause problems with the plumbing.

 

[TatiLie]

Someone who works in building maintenance told me that those ‘bio-degradable’ wipes are actually not bio-degradable at all and should not be flushed down a toilet. They will eventually cause problems with the plumbing.

They are biodegradable but not flushable, which means that they will take longer to decompose but they are in fact fully degradable (the said 'flushable' wipes have threads of plastic material in them).

I brought myself a pack of biodegradable baby wipes and a roll of compostable 5L bag and they were incredibly useful (but I did not use for the most obvious use, though). I cut a few of the wipes in half and placed inside an old chewing gum jar to have easy access daily. Compostable bags are semi-permeable, though, so careful when using it to carry soft fruits, wet laundry, wet toiletries, dirty wipes....

 

[VNwalking]

I do not go after it...past that age!

No no, @Marbe2 . They're the ones who should do that.
I don't know why, but it tickles me mightily to imagine stern Guarda Civil guys catching people littering (or - ahem - whatever) and informing the errant pilgrim that they must go back and pick up their stuff.
It's never ever going to happen, but it would be sooo nice, just once, to see such a thing.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

No no, @Marbe2 . They're the ones who should do that.
I don't know why, but it tickles me mightily to imagine stern Guarda Civil guys catching people littering (or - ahem - whatever) and informing the errant pilgrim that they must go back and pick up their stuff.
It's never ever going to happen, but it would be sooo nice, just once, to see such a thing.

It's so true , it never will happen.
This littering is a world wide problem. We saw it a few day's ago during our walk near Deventer.
When people don't change the polution will never stop , sorry to say . In my honest opinion it's getting worse World wide .
Wish you well.

 

[VNwalking]

It's so true , it never will happen.

Oh well.
It isn't the TP, but the humorous aspect that was the point.
It's a funny thing to imagine: the GC litter patrol, walking up and down the camino with their swagger and sidearms. "Señora, you go pick up that paper and whatever you left with it. Right now." As sheepish peregrina goes off to clean up her rubbish.
Accompanied by the right movie music, of course, as the hero saves the day.
I guess I have a strange sense of humor.

 

[KinkyOne]

...
It's never ever going to happen, but it would be sooo nice, just once, to see such a thing.

Few years ago me and my friends did similar kind of action at the traffic lights where drivers throw out cigarette butts, plastic bottles, take-away coffee cups etc. We asked our friends skilled in martial arts and some clubs to help us and they were very happy to do that. All very big boys

What was the plan? We sent the smallest, the thinest guys to that traffic lights crossroads and whatever (even still burning cigarette butts) the drivers threw out on the street or even on the patch of grass between lanes, this guys threw back into cars (usually drivers lap) saying very politely: "Sorry sir/madam but I think that belongs to you. I believe you accidentally dropped it."

Of course the reactions were from all sides of the spectre but when some of them tried to use force then our "thugs" came on the scene. Always in pairs. All was good until guess what? After few days police came and they said they would arrest and prosecute us. US!!! For making damage to the owners of cars. Oh yes!

But it was fun really and maybe some of them are not doing that anymore. I hope.

 

[Icacos]

They are biodegradable but not flushable, which means that they will take longer to decompose but they are in fact fully degradable (the said 'flushable' wipes have threads of plastic material in them)....

Thank you for clarifying things here. I need to be reminded, from time to time, that I don’t always get things 100% straight.

 

[trecile]

Oh well.
It isn't the TP, but the humorous aspect that was the point.
It's a funny thing to imagine: the GC litter patrol, walking up and down the camino with their swagger and sidearms. "Señora, you go pick up that paper and whatever you left with it. Right now." As sheepish peregrina goes off to clean up her rubbish.
Accompanied by the right movie music, of course, as the hero saves the day.
I guess I have a strange sense of humor.

Do they still wear the tricornio? Now that would be something to see!

 

[peregrina2000]

The tricornio is surely alive and well. But I don’t think that the guardias who are patrolling the Camino (and there are a lot of them) typically wear the tricornio. Your question got me to google a bit, @trecile, and I discovered that yes indeed the tricornio is still worn, and still manufactured, only in Spain. No China outsourcing seems to have happened. https://www.elespanol.com/reportaje...a-sevillana-guardia-civil-no/313968656_0.html

Apoparently the only Guardias Civiles who use that hat today are those who work in embassys and other important public buildings. But in parades and for ceremonies, they are de rigeur.

 

[VNwalking]

The tricornio is surely alive and well.

Wow. I like the juxtaposition of the flash sunglasses and the tricornio. I'm sorry to admit that men with tricornios always look to me like they are marching around with their abuela's saucepans on their heads.

No China outsourcing seems to have happened.

Can you imagine what the people making these things are wondering?

Oh wait, edit: I read 'no' and thought it was a typo for 'now.' I guess they know all about them.

 

[Pingüigrino]

I think this also is a great indicator of how much the role of the Guardia Civil has changed in Spanish society. Much more of a positive force in the community than when they strolled around looking menacing and with machine guns slung over their shoulders.

In that times you are writting about, more than 1.000 persons where killed in Spain by terrorists, many of them policemen and Civil Guards, but many others were children , women, workers, politicians, journalists...
They could apeears menacing , but thank to those men and women with their machine guns, we are living now in a free and safe country.
To all of them, in the past, the future and nowadays, our thanks, our respect, and our admiration.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

In that times you are writting about, more than 1.000 persons where killed in Spain by terrorists, many of them policemen and Civil Guards, but many others were children , women, workers, politicians, journalists...
They could apeears menacing , but thank to those men and women with their machine guns, we are living now in a free and safe country.
To all of them, in the past, the future and nowadays, our thanks, our respect, and our admiration.

It still chills my spine to see the fasces bundle of sticks and the axe on their badge though.

 

[Paladina]

Oh, regarding the toilet paper ... surely everybody can manage to bring a few doggy poop bags, they weigh nothing and would fit nicely in a backpack hip pocket, bum bag or trouser pocket, then just pop the used TP into the bag, tie up, tuck away until you find a bin.

Inserting used toilet paper inside doggy bags and/or ziplock bags will increase the amount of waste products destined for landfill. Why not bring a small trowel or a large spoon - both reusable! - to dig a hole and bury your organic matter?

 

[CAJohn]

In Japan, I saw no litter and rarely saw a garbage can. Cultural expectations.

 

[Pingüigrino]

It still chills my spine to see the fasces bundle of sticks and the axe on their badge though.

I always feel safer when I see the badge of the Cuardia Civil. Always. I have nothing to fear from police.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Inserting used toilet paper inside doggy bags and/or ziplock bags will increase the amount of waste products destined for landfill. Why not bring a small trowel or a large spoon - both reusable! - to dig a hole and bury your organic matter?

depending on weather conditions, the roadside dirt is either hard-pack or squidgy mud. I tried your suggestion in the past with less-than happy outcomes.

 

[Paladina]

depending on weather conditions, the roadside dirt is either hard-pack or squidgy mud. I tried your suggestion in the past with less-than happy outcomes.

This is when I bring out my undefeated multi-function Swiss army knife.

 

[Portia1]

Am carrying disposable gloves and trash bags to collect along the way. Wish I could carry some grabbers (those long things with squeeze handles and two fingers to grab stuff) but alas, to9 heavy and long. I’ll hav3 to bend. In the past, I have been saddened by the pilgrim trash left. It turned out to be helpful on two occasions when I missed a turn. When I didn’t see trash, I knew I was no longer on the Camino!

 

[VNwalking]

Wish I could carry some grabbers (those long things with squeeze handles and two fingers to grab stuff) but alas, to9 heavy and long.

Portia, I carried a pair on my last camino that were foldable. And light. They easily ticked into the side of my pack when not in use. They sure beat tongs!

When I didn’t see trash, I knew I was no longer on the Camino!

Trash is the new yellow arrow. Ick.
Where are the GC when we need them to hector people into going back to pick up their stuff?

 

[debra]

Not all places view the tossing of rubbish on the ground the same way. Living five years in China showed me the extreme other view of don't toss rubbish on the ground. With the camino being open to all, we see all views on small issues such is how to get deal with rubbish along with tons of other issues. A single person will try to change to the normal around them but a large group will go back to what is normal to them at home.

 

[VNwalking]

A single person will try to change to the normal around them but a large group will go back to what is normal to them at home.

True enough. And not just in Asia.
But that refrigerator probably taught a lesson to more than one person. I bet he'll be talking about that in bars for the rest of his life.