Litter Picking on a Mountain: A Sinking Ship Scenario

A New Deposit Scheme to Tackle Litter on Wales’ Highest Mountain

Campaigners believe a new deposit scheme for plastic and glass bottles could significantly reduce litter levels on Yr Wyddfa, also known as Snowdon, Wales’ highest mountain. Volunteers currently collect over 1,500kg of rubbish annually from the area, describing the effort as “bailing water from a sinking ship.” With increasing numbers of visitors climbing the mountain, the challenge of maintaining cleanliness remains a pressing concern.

The Welsh government is planning to introduce a deposit return scheme in October 2027, which will allow people to receive money or vouchers when they return empty bottles and cans. This initiative is expected to have a major impact on reducing single-use pollution, particularly in areas like Yr Wyddfa, where littering is a persistent issue.

Current Efforts and Challenges

Partners such as the national park, the National Trust, Cymdeithas Eryri, and Trash Free Trails organize more than 100 litter picks each year. Despite these efforts, volunteers report that almost all the litter found on Yr Wyddfa comes directly from the mountain itself. During a two-hour session on the Llanberis Path, 277 items of single-use pollution were collected from just 1.8 miles (3km) of the path.

Owain Thomas, a regular volunteer, described the work as both rewarding and exhausting. “It’s a very rewarding thing to do with my free time, but it’s endless,” he said. “You clean up rubbish on a Saturday, and it’s back there on Wednesday. It can feel like a sinking ship—constantly bailing out the water and it just keeps coming back.”

The Impact of the Deposit Return Scheme

The proposed deposit return scheme aims to change the way people think about single-use items. Heather Friendship-Kay from Trash Free Trails noted that 28% of all single-use pollution found in Wales would be eligible for the scheme. “So, overnight, we could remove almost a third of the items that are out on these trails,” she said.

Rory Francis, director of Cymdeithas Eryri, added that the scheme would shift the responsibility of cleaning up from volunteers to the companies producing the waste. “People keep telling us we shouldn’t have to spend so much time clearing up the mountain,” he said. “A deposit return scheme would change the way we think about single-use items.”

Complexities of the Litter Problem

Despite the potential benefits of the deposit scheme, campaigners acknowledge that litter on Yr Wyddfa is a complex issue. During a recent litter pick, 277 items were removed over 1.8 miles of the path. Plastic was the most common material found, while snacks were the most frequent category of litter. Only 15% of the items were eligible for the deposit return scheme, which is lower than the average.

Other items included dog poo bags, tissues, wet wipes, smoking-related waste, and fruit peel. Etta Morgan from Eryri National Park Authority emphasized the need for individual responsibility. “Lasting change relies on the actions of every individual who visits,” she said. “We urge all visitors to adopt a leave no trace approach, taking personal responsibility for their impact by taking litter home, respecting local communities, and helping to ensure that Yr Wyddfa remains a protected and sustainable environment.”

Broader Environmental Concerns

Robbie Blackhall-Miles from Plantlife highlighted the long-term environmental impact of litter on the mountain. “At the summit, up to 5% of the soil is made of plastic,” he said. “It is shed from people's clothing, but also comes from plastic waste which is dropped on the mountain, breaking down in the sunlight and finding its way into the environment.”

With over 4,000 pieces of litter collected from the mountain, the need for sustained action remains clear. While the deposit return scheme offers hope, it is only one part of a broader solution. Addressing the issue of litter requires collective effort from individuals, businesses, and government bodies alike.