Autumn is one of the times when we take the most getaways into nature, especially on weekends, to admire the changing of the season, its colors, fruits, etc., as we explained in this other article. However, with the influx of visitors to the natural environment, there also comes a greater volume of waste that unfortunately ends up, too often, in forests, streams, and roadsides. Therefore, taking advantage of the fact that this November we celebrate the European Week for Waste Reduction, we have prepared this article for you! Photo: Valeri Mark.
As you know, the Tourdera is a route that will allow you to travel through our territory while following the courses of the Tordera and the Arbúcies stream, both on foot and by bicycle. However, this approach to nature carries a greater risk that our waste will end up in the natural environment. In fact, volunteer days to collect waste in nature are often organized due to this problem.
Together with the European Charter for Sustainable Tourism in Montseny, we have written this article to inform you about this very important topic. Do you know which are the most common wastes we find in nature? According to the Catalan Waste Agency, they are these:
- Wet wipes
- Cigarette butts
- Plastic bottles
- Cans
- Bags and small containers
- Caps, lids, and small plastics
- Paper
- Glass
- Clothing and footwear
- Bulky items
The most worrying thing, moreover, is the time it can take for products to decompose. Even organic waste lasts a long time in the environment, so as we recommend on the website, you should always take back everything you carry with you: keep the waste and take it away! In the forest, leave no trace other than your footprint! We leave you some data to reflect on the time it takes for waste to disappear:
- Organic waste: 4 weeks
- Paper and cardboard: 1 year (depending on the rain, but the problem is the inks printed on the packaging!)
- Cigarette butts: 2 years
- Chewing gum: 5 years
- Aluminum: 10 years
- Plastic: 150 years
- Glass: 4,000 years
This November, specifically between the 22nd and 30th, the European Week for Waste Reduction is celebrated, the goal of which is to organize awareness-raising actions on waste prevention during the same week all over Europe. So now you know, when you go on an excursion in the natural environment, always remember to take your waste with you or, if you have a bin or container handy, dispose of the waste there separately for recycling! Leave the place where you go just as you would like to find it!
