Snowdon turns into a rubbish dump: Heartbreaking footage shows ‘waterfalls’ of litter crashing down Wales’ highest mountain
It is one of the most challenging mountains to climb in Britain.
But it seems even Snowdon has fallen victim to the UK’s litter crisis.
Heartbreaking footage shows ‘waterfalls’ of litter cascading down Wales’ highest mountain, dumped by careless climbers.
Experts from the British Mountaineering Council carried out a litter survey on the mountain and found rubbish dating back 100 years.
In total, the team collected more than 2,700 pieces of litter, including more than 800 cans of drinks and 274 plastic water bottles.
It is one of the most challenging mountains to climb in Britain. But it seems even Snowdon has fallen victim to the UK’s litter crisis
Heartbreaking footage shows ‘waterfalls’ of litter cascading down Wales’ highest mountain, dumped by careless climbers
Every year, more than 600,000 novice climbers climb Snowdon, also known as Yr Wyddfa. The mountain reaches a height of 1,085 meters (3,560 feet), making it the highest peak in Wales
Every year, more than 600,000 novice climbers climb Snowdon, also known as Yr Wyddfa.
The mountain reaches a height of 1,085 meters (3,560 feet), making it the highest peak in Wales.
With the new litter harvest, the team looked for exactly how much litter these climbers leave behind.
Climbers strapped on abseils to access a dangerous gully below the summit and hikers cleared one of the busiest trails on the mountain.
However, the team says that despite hours of painstaking work, there are still piles of rubbish on the mountain.
Experts from the British Mountaineering Council conducted a rubbish search on the mountain and found rubbish from 100 years ago.
In total, the team collected more than 2,700 pieces of litter, including more than 800 cans of drinks and 274 plastic water bottles
Tom Carrick, BMC access and conservation officer for Wales, said: ‘I still believe this is just the start of this work.
‘We will look at what we can do differently in the future – and also how we can change our behavior and attitude about what we take into the mountains.
‘For me, the most startling realization was the amount of single-use plastic bottles in the gullies. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Eryri to find a solution to encourage the use of reusable bottles on the mountainside.”
Environmental groups have urged visitors to avoid single-use plastics on trips to the mountain and use reusable bottles instead.
Climbers secured abseils to access a dangerous gully below the summit and hikers cleared one of the busiest trails on the mountain
The team says that despite hours of painstaking work, there are still piles of rubbish on the mountain
Environmental groups have urged visitors to avoid single-use plastics on trips to the mountain and use reusable bottles instead
Trash Free Trails have said a deposit system would help reduce single-use plastic waste – with return machines paying out for returned cans or bottles.
Dom Ferris, CEO of Trash Free Trails, said: ‘We know from European case studies that a DRS can remove an entire category of litter from our routes in no time; Why do we allow much-loved walking spots like Snowdon to be the alternative to a vending machine?’
Alec Young, project officer at Eryri National Park, said: ‘Microplastics have been found in every soil sample checked on the most popular trails up Yr Wyddfa.
‘We see DRS playing a crucial role in reducing litter on the mountain and preventing harmful fragmented plastics from entering and ruining this sensitive environment.’