TrailWatch kicked off the Waste Audit 2022 with the series of Tseung Kwan O backyard trails. Besides just paying effort to clean up trails, we would like the participants to take that as an opportunity to enjoy the backyards’ scenery and the relaxing vibe. The first Waste Audit of the year was completed on 17 Sept, with a group of 13 people departing from the Po Lam MTR station to the Little Hawaii Trail. Due to the current circumstances of Covid-19, the Waste Audit was conducted in small groups.
3-4 people in a group with each participant performing their own duties. Some of them were responsible for picking up rubbish, some were responsible for recording the types and amount of the rubbish, and some were using the TrailWatch app to track the route and take photos.
Most of the participants on the day were new to the TrailWatch App, and for some, it was their first time cleaning a trail. Shortly after ascending the trail, we found discarded wastes that were large in size so the participants got to try out TrailWatch’s incident report function. There were a lot of different kinds of waste along the way, and a total of 16 cases were reported to TrailWatch from this particular Waste Audit event.
An abandoned black umbrella.
All kinds of rubbish were found, including tattered soles and Tetra Pak drink packages that are faded from sunlight.
A twisted cloth hanger was found on the trail, possibly a kind of “exclusive rubbish” of backyard trails
As usual, the TrailWatch team has pre-visited the location to assess its feasibility for public events. After we first visited the Little Hawaii Trail, we thought there was not much rubbish on the trail. Some rubbish was spotted near the rest spots but nothing serious which is also the common situation of the other trails. However, all sorts of weird rubbish and spots piled with years old wastes are discovered by participants’ fresh eyes during the event.
Rubbish on trails usually directly reflects the habits or activities of hikers in that area, for example, masks and RAT kits are commonly found during the pandemic. The Waste Audit participants have realized that many people still leave behind their plastic bottles, food wrappers and tissue paper in the countryside. Other than just joining trail clean-up activities like the Waste Audit, we hope everyone can practise Leave No Trace and expand the zero waste lifestyle even on trails, let’s take part in guarding the countryside.
Summary of Little Hawaii Trail’s Waste Audit
The total weight of rubbish: 7.56kg (7 bags of rubbish with a total of 349 pieces)
– No. of Plastic Bottles: 31
– No. of Food Packaging:70
– No. of Anti-pandemic Items: 35
Activity Record:
More about the Waste Audit: https://www.trailwatch.hk/blog/836