A big thanks for all the gel wrappers.
Comments
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Little plastic bag for the banana and then empty peel. Not hard. If that's too hard to manage stick to gels and then carry them out on your pockets.
Throwing rubbish out on your ride because you don't want to mucky your clothes and lacking any imagination to work out a better solution. I'm lost for the word to describe your attitude.
Pack it in then pack it out. Work out how to do that or choose another snack that you can cope with.0 -
As long as a banana skin is out of sight it's fine, but if you go to the effort to hide it under a rock you might as well go to the effort of taking it home or finding a bin...0
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TIL a bidon is what everyone calls a bottle when the TdF is on
Current:
NukeProof Mega FR 2012
Cube NuRoad 2018
Previous:
2015 Genesis CdF 10, 2014 Cube Hyde Race, 2012 NS Traffic, 2007 Specialized SX Trail, 2005 Specialized Demo 80 -
Throwing a gel wrapper will get you fined if in a cycle race (£10 I believe), at least in Surrey Cycle League or whatever its called.
People who discard plastic waste should have their kneecaps shot out. That'll learn 'em.WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
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I completely disagree. It's a form of pollution that takes longer than most natural waste to degrade. They don't get scavenged like apple cores, they just rot very slowly. Just because it can't be seen doesn't mean it's not there.HaydenM wrote:As long as a banana skin is out of sight it's fine,
At the opposite end of the pollution scariest, but even radioactive waste will degrade eventually. At what point do you decide the sweeping of waste out of sight is acceptable? I don't see single use plastics causing all those problems in the sea so that's OK too?
There's a saying, think global act local. I personally think think big but take the small steps too. Reduce the more obvious wastes from the environment but don't stop there. The less harmful are still worth the effort.
I really don't get this out of sight = no problem mentality. It is illogical to me. Whether I see it or not it's there as waste that shouldn't be.
Of course if you're throwing it out of sight in upland areas like the lakes or Highlands then chances are you might be causing damage to vulnerable ecology. Not least because being creatures of habit (I think that is a good description) we tend to stop for snacks on similar places when walking in the hills or even cycling. That means the hiding place for your banana skin will be very near the hiding place for other people's. The same for your toilet stops with associated tissue waste. Both as wrong IMHO. That banana skin of yours will add to previous ones and they affect acidity of soil. Affects health in soil (mate did his research on nematodes health in upland soils, a climate indicator apparently).
What is wrong with packing the skin out, at least to a bin?0 -
Tangled Metal wrote:
I completely disagree. It's a form of pollution that takes longer than most natural waste to degrade. They don't get scavenged like apple cores, they just rot very slowly. Just because it can't be seen doesn't mean it's not there.HaydenM wrote:As long as a banana skin is out of sight it's fine,
At the opposite end of the pollution scariest, but even radioactive waste will degrade eventually. At what point do you decide the sweeping of waste out of sight is acceptable? I don't see single use plastics causing all those problems in the sea so that's OK too?
There's a saying, think global act local. I personally think think big but take the small steps too. Reduce the more obvious wastes from the environment but don't stop there. The less harmful are still worth the effort.
I really don't get this out of sight = no problem mentality. It is illogical to me. Whether I see it or not it's there as waste that shouldn't be.
Of course if you're throwing it out of sight in upland areas like the lakes or Highlands then chances are you might be causing damage to vulnerable ecology. Not least because being creatures of habit (I think that is a good description) we tend to stop for snacks on similar places when walking in the hills or even cycling. That means the hiding place for your banana skin will be very near the hiding place for other people's. The same for your toilet stops with associated tissue waste. Both as wrong IMHO. That banana skin of yours will add to previous ones and they affect acidity of soil. Affects health in soil (mate did his research on nematodes health in upland soils, a climate indicator apparently).
What is wrong with packing the skin out, at least to a bin?
Single use plastics don't degrade without causing huge environmental issues. Radioactive waste is fine if it is safely contained and left until it is no longer radioactive. Both are completely different to banana skins.
What do you do with banana peels when you get home? It has to go somewhere, does it go to landfill? or get driven to a recycling centre and put somewhere? Unless you are mulching it at home I wouldn't expect any to be as environmentally friendly as burying it in the woods (provided you don't bury a million at once). It'll have no effect on the environment aside from a marginal increase in soil nutrients where it decomposes.
The out of sight= no problem mentality is not one I have generally, unless the only issue with the litter is the visual pollution.
With my background of land management, I would far rather people take their cr4p with them but if you are going to leave something make sure it is biodegradable and out of sight (it'll make a lovely change from the skips worth of building debris I find on a regular basis). If you are going to go to that much effort it's much easier to take it home. You make a good point about sensitive habitats, the land I manage (some in the Highlands) isn't sensitive so I was coming from a different angle.
EDIT: It's also still counted as litter so don't do it or you might be fined. Or get a waste transfer note and take it to somewhere that can legally deal with waste products (ie not forests). As you say, if everyone stops in the same place and does it it will have more of an impact also. I'm just pointing out that in some circumstances burying biodegradable waste is probably fine environmentally (although that is definitely not what I said originally so on balance you are right
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There's a serious case of straw man going on comparing banana peel with radioactive substances. Is there a link available to a research that actually indicates decomposure duration as 2 years - apart for that guardian link? The fellow there was complaining about banana skins on top of mountain, where, i would expect, wildlife and microfauna would be less abundant than your average forest or roadside hedge. Guardian's source is keepbritaintidy;org
which yields nothing on banana search.
Wrapper droppers can rot in hell.
And someone complaining about pros ditching bottles - race organisers clean up the roadsides after events or they would not be allowed back there. Anyways, I would expect pro litter to be less than 10% of what's left there by the crowds.0 -
Actually, not quite true... A banana is actually likely to be more radioactive than most Low Level Waste due to the naturally occurring radioactive potassium. But I think that may be straying from the point somewhat.HaydenM wrote:Single use plastics don't degrade without causing huge environmental issues. Radioactive waste is fine if it is safely contained and left until it is no longer radioactive. Both are completely different to banana skins.
Simple - you took it with you, bring it back.0 -
So many heroes on here slating lesser riders while saving the planet. Do you all have one long arm and a massive hand?0
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Nobody's mentioned lesser riders but you ?
I don't think it's unfair to call litter louts tw*ts is it ?0 -
I think there are far more important matters to prioritise than prevention of throwing banana skins. They will rot in a few weeks, not an significant issue. Compare that with any kind of plastic that will take hundreds of years.
If you're going to get all uppity about banana skins, what about feeding bread to ducks. Brake pad dust getting into the air. Environmental pollution as a result of manufacturing your bike. The list is endless.WyndyMilla Massive Attack | Rourke 953 | Condor Italia 531 Pro | Boardman CX Pro | DT Swiss RR440 Tubeless Wheels
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Ok radioactive waste is an excessive way to make a point. You make it clearly with the point about it being managed. My point is thrown into the hedge or out of sight isn't managed. Under existing systems landfill is the most managed place for domestic waste such as banana skins. Whilst less harmful that radioactive waste it's still a waste that is better to manage than discard.
As far as that 2 year figure came from I've read higher figure elsewhere. Greenpeace I think puts it at an unbelievably high number of years as is their tendency I think. Although I do believe I read in new scientist or national geographic similar sorts of figures. I think the banana skin decomposition longevity is an accepted thing.
From purely anecdotal side I've done a lot of walking in the lakes in the past and I recall seeing banana skins decompose over time on the fells I walked a lot at the time. My back yard of you like (even though I lived away from those places). I'm one to remove my own waste but not others unless on a volunteer day. I have seen banana skins over time. Some fells I walk every other month or so and have actually noted skin changes over a long period. It's certainly something I've made note of with mates when I've seen them in noticeable places I visit a lot.
One simple question, is dumping something rather than disposing of it responsibly ever acceptable?0 -
Few weeks, widely stated as few years to rot down is point one.drlodge wrote:I think there are far more important matters to prioritise than prevention of throwing banana skins. They will rot in a few weeks, not an significant issue. Compare that with any kind of plastic that will take hundreds of years.
If you're going to get all uppity about banana skins, what about feeding bread to ducks. Brake pad dust getting into the air. Environmental pollution as a result of manufacturing your bike. The list is endless.
Point two is packing it out how you packed it in its such an easy action.
Point three a lot of things you can't change but those easy things shouldn't get dropped because you can't stop the more difficult things like brake dust.
As far as bread to ducks, that's something that should and could be stopped if people just knew about the issues. Still doesn't have any link to throwing any rubbish away on your ride, walk or run rather than taking it home or to a bin.
Finally, it's not getting uppity it's simply not understanding how you can think packing out your waste isn't something you'd want to do rather than feeling you must do. Plus just because it made your jersey look dirty as the reason is simply pathetic IMHO.0 -
drlodge wrote:I think there are far more important matters to prioritise than prevention of throwing banana skins. They will rot in a few weeks, not an significant issue. Compare that with any kind of plastic that will take hundreds of years.
Maybe try reading next time ? It's two years for banana skins.
How about - a crazy idea this - not leaving any rubbish behind be it banana skins or gel wrappers or water bottles ?
Pretty sure you'd be annoyed if I started hoiking banana skins onto your lawn.0 -
If you chuck a banana skin on your flower bed at home it won't be there in 2 months let alone 2 years.
Two years is a figure for sensitive mountain environments.
This in no way condones chucking litter but a banana skin in a ploughed field or your average UK hedgerow is going to have pretty limited environmental impact.
It'll certainly have a lot less impact than the tarmac road you're cycling on and most of our average supermarket visits.0 -
Careful, you're getting uppity now!
Look can we all agree that management of waste is the best we can manage, unless you're not creating it in the first place. That throwing anything away in an unmanaged way isn't the best thing.0 -
Tangled Metal wrote:Look can we all agree that management of waste is the best we can manage, unless you're not creating it in the first place. That throwing anything away in an unmanaged way isn't the best thing.
Hard to disagree with that, wish I hadn't said it was fine now
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Fenix wrote:Nobody's mentioned lesser riders but you ?
I don't think it's unfair to call litter louts tw*ts is it ?
It's all the full pro kit guys
Fat mammils riding 40 miles & eating 10 gels because thay think thats what the pros do is dumb, & maybe thats why there all so fat?
At least you don't get many MAMILs leaving used nappies at the trough. Yet to see a MAMIL with a child seat attached to an aero bike.
Standard stuff on this forum these days.0 -
The MAMILs / nappy comment was very small part of a general discussion on how in a lot of outdoor pursuits it's become more acceptable to dispose of your waste by leaving it behind or hiding it in the countryside out of sight. My comments were iirc discussing waste in the lakeland fells that I've cleaned up with mates. I was jokingly congratulating MAMILs for not leaving used nappies behind. However whatever the waste it's still not acceptable to dump it.thegreatdivide wrote:Fenix wrote:Nobody's mentioned lesser riders but you ?
I don't think it's unfair to call litter louts tw*ts is it ?
It's all the full pro kit guys
Fat mammils riding 40 miles & eating 10 gels because thay think thats what the pros do is dumb, & maybe thats why there all so fat?
At least you don't get many MAMILs leaving used nappies at the trough. Yet to see a MAMIL with a child seat attached to an aero bike.
Standard stuff on this forum these days.
Do you object to MAMIL term or the poor joke about MAMILs with a child seat? Personally I would find it amusing to see such a thing. Especially since I've experienced the instability of a child seat on an unsuitable bike. The full racing clobber would only add to the humour of the sight IMHO. Obviously not good with a child in the seat as well.0 -
You learn something new every day, havent thrown a banana skin in a hedge for many years but didnt think it was a problem, thought I was helping the environment, I wont do it again though!!!!0
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Of course apple cores are potentially a good thing. Food source and have you ever seen apple trees growing in the west country seemingly self seeded?0
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cld531c wrote:You learn something new every day, havent thrown a banana skin in a hedge for many years but didnt think it was a problem, thought I was helping the environment, I wont do it again though!!!!
Tens of thousands spent on NPK fertilisers so go ahead (provided you are in an upland sitka spruce plantation) 0 -
It's as bad as urban muppets on BSOs on mobile phones, no handed on cycle paths chuckin their fag packets and sh it. No I wont say anything either, most are carrying, even in my town.0
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Googling it some sites claim 4-6 weeks for a banana skin to decompose sometimes longer in cold weather - so this 2 years doesn't seem definitive. I have just eaten a banana I think I'll retrieve the skin from the bin and see how long it takes to rot in my garden. I have to say I've never slung one in the open but I have occasionally thrown one into a bed of nettles.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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It also depends where you throw them out too. All I can say banana skins last a very long time on the Lakeland fells.
The other question is at what point do you determine that they have gone? Some studies might put that at when the skin is no longer seen on the surface, others when the trace of it has gone from the soil it was dumped on. As in all effects of it has disappeared. I guess that accounts for differences (that and the Greenpeace factor).0 -
Well if we are talking any trace of it from the soil that's quite a test if we are talking chucking a banana skin into a grass verge by the roadside. If the one in my garden takes 2 years to decompose fair play I wont chuck any more though even on a grass verge by an A road. I do sometimes take them home anyway depends where I am riding.[Castle Donington Ladies FC - going up in '22]0
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Yes, there's some very long times given in some resources. Usually the greenpeace types who take the greatest possible length of time using maximum error bars and everything they can to make a stronger point.
My view is more that it's your rubbish take it with you. Even if it rots in days you should take it with you. Timescale has no input into that view.
Rubbish is something that should always be disposed of responsibly in the location meant for rubbish. A bin, compost heap, recycling centre or incinerator. Side of road, hills or anywhere else is not such a place.
I don't see how that's hard to understand and carry out.0 -
Tangled Metal wrote:I don't see how that's hard to understand and carry out.
It's not, but if you can be sure no one will ever see it before it decomposes, and it's not in a sensitive area then it makes no difference to anyone0 -
90% of my cycling is on quiet B-roads or lanes in rural areas, and I always chuck my banana skins out of sight in the hedge.
Whilst I understand the principle behind the point being made about banana skins I really don't see how it causes any harm to discard them sensibly. Leaving them out in the open on top of a mountain is clearly a bit daft, but in a hedge where even if it does take a few months to fully decompose it isn't hurting anything. It's very different to plastic which will cause a number of problems as everyone seems to be well aware of these days.
I'm doing far more harm on my 7 mile drive to work in the morning than I'll ever do chucking banana skins in hedges.0
