Stop Tossing Your Banana Peel on the Trail

[DGUtley]

Stop Tossing Your Banana Peel on the Trail - That "organic litter" you just threw? It'll still be around in a year.

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Pop quiz: You’re biking with a friend, zipping along a semi-rural road, when your buddy pulls a banana from his jersey, peels it with his teeth, and flings the skin into the ditch. What do you say?


a. “Dude! That’s littering.”
b. “Dude! What the $#@!?”
c. Nothing, because I don’t want to make waves.
d. Nothing, because I don’t see the problem.
A lot of people, I think, would opt for C or D. Well, I’m here to make a case for A. Or, if you don’t shy from strong language, B. The old hikers’ maxim “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” doesn’t make an exception for food scraps—and it shouldn’t.

It’s true, technically, that apple cores and banana peels are natural. But natural litter is still litter. And this stuff doesn’t disappear nearly as fast as you might think. (Incidentally, I have a friend who swears it’s OK to dispose of his gum by spitting it out on the ground, because—wait for it—“it will decompose.” This friend is wrong. And gross.)

Some folks seem to assume that fruits and vegetables left outside will shrivel, turn black, and disintegrate in a matter of hours, like a time-lapse video from middle school biology. In fact, an apple core can take two months to decompose; a banana skin or orange peel, two years, leaving plenty of time for animals who shouldn’t eat it to come along and eat it. Plus, while nature does its thing, that trash—and let’s not mince words, that’s what it is—is an eyesore. It’s also a visual cue to other passers-by that tossing their own trash isn’t a big deal. In other words: Litter begets litter.

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IT IS DANGEROUS FOR THE ANIMALS - THAT NEED TO STAY HEALTHY

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[carolina73]

Sorry. I can't accept what they say. I compost everything and a little sun and rain breaks down these materials very quickly.

[hanger4]

Sorry. I can't accept what they say. I compost everything and a little sun and rain breaks down these materials very quickly.

Agreed.

[hanger4]

Stop Tossing Your Banana Peel on the Trail - That "organic litter" you just threw? It'll still be around in a year.

Attachment 39440

Pop quiz: You’re biking with a friend, zipping along a semi-rural road, when your buddy pulls a banana from his jersey, peels it with his teeth, and flings the skin into the ditch. What do you say?


a. “Dude! That’s littering.”
b. “Dude! What the $#@!?”
c. Nothing, because I don’t want to make waves.
d. Nothing, because I don’t see the problem.
A lot of people, I think, would opt for C or D. Well, I’m here to make a case for A. Or, if you don’t shy from strong language, B. The old hikers’ maxim “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” doesn’t make an exception for food scraps—and it shouldn’t.

It’s true, technically, that apple cores and banana peels are natural. But natural litter is still litter. And this stuff doesn’t disappear nearly as fast as you might think. (Incidentally, I have a friend who swears it’s OK to dispose of his gum by spitting it out on the ground, because—wait for it—“it will decompose.” This friend is wrong. And gross.)

Some folks seem to assume that fruits and vegetables left outside will shrivel, turn black, and disintegrate in a matter of hours, like a time-lapse video from middle school biology. In fact, an apple core can take two months to decompose; a banana skin or orange peel, two years, leaving plenty of time for animals who shouldn’t eat it to come along and eat it. Plus, while nature does its thing, that trash—and let’s not mince words, that’s what it is—is an eyesore. It’s also a visual cue to other passers-by that tossing their own trash isn’t a big deal. In other words: Litter begets litter.

Attachment 39441

Attachment 39442

Attachment 39443

IT IS DANGEROUS FOR THE ANIMALS - THAT NEED TO STAY HEALTHY

Attachment 39444


https://getpocket.com/explore/item/s...=pocket-newtab

Mr. Remy seems to only be considering the eyesore he disapproves of. He also forgets all the forests fruits, nuts and berrys that that hit the forest floor and decompose. Mr. Remy should be thankful those hikers are consuming healthy food snacks.

[countryboy]

Stop Tossing Your Banana Peel on the Trail - That "organic litter" you just threw? It'll still be around in a year.

Attachment 39440

Pop quiz: You’re biking with a friend, zipping along a semi-rural road, when your buddy pulls a banana from his jersey, peels it with his teeth, and flings the skin into the ditch. What do you say?


a. “Dude! That’s littering.”
b. “Dude! What the $#@!?”
c. Nothing, because I don’t want to make waves.
d. Nothing, because I don’t see the problem.
A lot of people, I think, would opt for C or D. Well, I’m here to make a case for A. Or, if you don’t shy from strong language, B. The old hikers’ maxim “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints” doesn’t make an exception for food scraps—and it shouldn’t.

It’s true, technically, that apple cores and banana peels are natural. But natural litter is still litter. And this stuff doesn’t disappear nearly as fast as you might think. (Incidentally, I have a friend who swears it’s OK to dispose of his gum by spitting it out on the ground, because—wait for it—“it will decompose.” This friend is wrong. And gross.)

Some folks seem to assume that fruits and vegetables left outside will shrivel, turn black, and disintegrate in a matter of hours, like a time-lapse video from middle school biology. In fact, an apple core can take two months to decompose; a banana skin or orange peel, two years, leaving plenty of time for animals who shouldn’t eat it to come along and eat it. Plus, while nature does its thing, that trash—and let’s not mince words, that’s what it is—is an eyesore. It’s also a visual cue to other passers-by that tossing their own trash isn’t a big deal. In other words: Litter begets litter.

Attachment 39441

Attachment 39442

Attachment 39443

IT IS DANGEROUS FOR THE ANIMALS - THAT NEED TO STAY HEALTHY

Attachment 39444


https://getpocket.com/explore/item/s...=pocket-newtab

Hogwash, poppy$#@!, and balderdash.

[nathanbforrest45]

Hogwash, poppy$#@!, and balderdash.

Don't hold back @countryboy, tell us what you really think!

I will have to agree with the idea that trash is still trash and the banana peels and apple cores won't disappear overnight. However, it is only trash because it is not native to the area. Here in Florida for example banana trees do often produce bananas. If one were growing near a trail and a stalk fell onto the trail would we consider that trash or natural mulch?

[countryboy]

Don't hold back @countryboy, tell us what you really think!

I will have to agree with the idea that trash is still trash and the banana peels and apple cores won't disappear overnight. However, it is only trash because it is not native to the area. Here in Florida for example banana trees do often produce bananas. If one were growing near a trail and a stalk fell onto the trail would we consider that trash or natural mulch?

That's where I'm at with it. We run a wildlife catering service with our leftovers at my place, and funnily enough, racoons eat watermelon just like people, and leave the rinds lay. Is it litter? Well, yeah, I guess so. Does it bother me? No. But this is out in the woods. I agree we shouldn't be strewing trash about on the pavement, or in the city, but the occasional banana peel or apple core in the rural ditch or woods is no biggie.

[carolina73]

If it were a plastic wrapper then I would agree with the writer.

If it was being dropped onto the middle of the trail then i would agree with the writer. However, I'm sure they give it a toss to the side of the trails into the brush or tall grass.

I suggest the writer should go have it out, with the bear that crap on the trail.

[Abby08]

Banana peels? I don't thrown down, they go in the trash.

If I'm eating an apple or pear, the cores get thrown on the ground (in my own yards) there are plenty of birds, rabbits and other creatures out there, those cores are gone the next day.

I don't drop them on my porches or, patios or, landscaped areas, they're put in the areas where the bird feeders are or, the areas with the trees and are not yet landscaped.

Better yet, I give them to the horses.

[Abby08]

If it were a plastic wrapper then I would agree with the writer.

If it was being dropped onto the middle of the trail then i would agree with the writer. However, I'm sure they give it a toss to the side of the trails into the brush or tall grass.

I suggest the writer should go have it out, with the bear that crap on the trail.

And, the people who bring their dogs and, don't clean up after them.

Peels and cores, I'd much rather encounter.