There is a really bad litter problem in Eastern Russia and Mongolia. Even in the most beautiful riverside and lake locations there are countless empty vodka bottles, plastic water bottles, millions of cigarette butts and general litter blanketing the ground. (Two litre bottles of Coca-cola seem to be the main suspect.) It’s widespread, utterly depressing and so unnecessary. Even by Lake Baikal, one of Russia’s most beautiful assets, and a UNESO site, there is litter everywhere.
Many of these places are obviously where people have stopped to camp, fish, swim, have a tea break etc and what rubbish they have created they have just left behind as they drive off in their car. However, much of the litter, especially in the open expanse of Mongolia, has undoubtedly been hurled out of the window of a car en route somewhere. As you drive along the very rural country paths litter lies either side and as these roads approach towns and villages it escalates.
Undoubtedly blame should be put at the doorstep of individuals for littering in the first place. On the other hand, I have yet to see a single rubbish lorry collect any of the dumped rubbish so I’m wondering where the government’s role in litter collection is? The balance of personal responsibility working alongside state education and infrastructure doesn’t seem to have worked (or might not even been have put into place yet.) And equally that old adage of ‘take nothing but photos, leave nothing but footprints’ hasn’t sunk in either.
Captain and I can both remember the Keep Britain Tidy campaign of the early 80s and a real drive to educate people not to drop litter. Talking to our Japanese travelling friends they said that Japan also ran a similar campaign as Japan used to have a bad litter problem too. (Hard to believe that was ever needed as I had presumed Japan had always been spotless!) I really hope something like that can work here too. My one man litter sweep around each camp spot with a bin bag isn’t going to make a big enough dent 😉
So come on litter bugs – take your rubbish with you – and keep these beautiful countries clean.
Rant over!