Tips for reducing your waste when visiting the National Park
If you’re planning a trip to the National Park, it’s important to consider the impact your visit could have on the landscape and wildlife in the area. Everyone has a role to play in protecting this special place, and the little things we do can make a big difference!
At Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park, we support the Scottish Government’s vision for a litter-free Scotland. That’s why we’ve partnered with Zero Waste Scotland to provide you with some tips on how to reduce, reuse and recycle when visiting the National Park.
Following these simple tips will prevent unnecessary waste going to landfill and help to keep the National Park beautiful.
- Ditch the disposables: If you’re bringing a picnic or snacks for a day of exploring, use reusable containers and bottles so you don’t need to discard of any waste when out in the wilderness.
- Stand against throwaway culture: For camping trips and other outdoor pursuits, invest in tents and other gear that can be used over and over again, rather than leaving valuable materials in our natural environment. Leaving tents and other items behind is flytipping and you could be fined.
- Be prepared: Before you set off on an adventure, remember to check local maps and signs to ensure you know where your nearest bins, toilets and recycling facilities are located. Our ‘last chance loo stops’ page offers a handy guide to public toilets in the National Park.
- Bag and bin it: If you do need to get rid of items while you’re out and there’s no bin nearby, please keep hold of your waste. Don’t leave rubbish behind, as this spoils the location for other visitors, can cause harm to wildlife and costs money to clean up.
Nik Turner, Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park Litter Prevention Manager, added: ‘The National Park is one of Scotland’s most iconic destinations and we’re pleased to welcome anyone who wishes to come and explore this beautiful area. However, it is vitally important that we all play our part in ensuring that the wildlife and natural beauty of this area is protected. The key thing to remember when visiting the National Park is to leave no trace and take any waste home with you. To minimise your impact, try and bring reusable items such as water bottles, food boxes and good quality camping or hiking gear that doesn’t need to be thrown away after one or two uses.’
We’re committed to working with partners to reduce the amount of waste in the National Park and to encourage communities to take direct action.
Find out more about looking after the National Park.
This blog post was written in partnership with Zero Waste Scotland, a not-for-profit environmental organisation that focuses on leading Scotland to use products and resources responsibly, in order to have the greatest impact on climate change.