Discarded gel packs and litter...

...after some events like the Killarney Adventure Race I have seen places full of litter. The organisers will do their best but there will be some scattered by winds or simply missed.

There must be some way of addressing it, like asking competitors to mark gel packs with their race number and subjecting them to spot checks before, so they can later identify who discarded the packages. The threat of it should see most of them find a way to keep them.

Any thoughts?

ultrapercy

Conor74 wrote: »

...after some events like the Killarney Adventure Race I have seen places full of litter. The organisers will do their best but there will be some scattered by winds or simply missed.

There must be some way of addressing it, like asking competitors to mark gel packs with their race number and subjecting them to spot checks before, so they can later identify who discarded the packages. The threat of it should see most of them find a way to keep them.

Any thoughts?

More bins, and a properly advertised system of disposing of wrappers.For example bins on both sides of road/ path 200 m after water stop. I would much rather my entry fee be spent this way than on medals t shirts and junk bags. 99% of people want to do the right thing but it must be made easy for them.

ThisRegard

ultrapercy wrote: »

More bins, and a properly advertised system of disposing of wrappers.For example bins on both sides of road/ path 200 m after water stop. I would much rather my entry fee be spent this way than on medals t shirts and junk bags. 99% of people want to do the right thing but it must be made easy for them.

People don't just take gels at water stops. People generally have pockets or bags in those races, that's plenty enough bins on the course.

kit3

If you can carry the gels in the first place then you can carry the empty wrapping (at least until you get to a bin). I usually end up with a big sticky mess in my gel belt/pouch but it washes out

PaulieC

It's a pity, but it's not just in races it happens. I've seen gel packets on the Wicklow way, on the Phoenix Park trails and even on my local trail down towards the beach. Unfortunately, some people are just scummers when it comes to littering.

I would suggest a good beat of a stick for those who are caught, but they are usually running too fast...

sconhome

Between gel wrappers and people who take a sip from a bottle at an event and fling it over a hedge into the next parish I don't understand it at all.

You carried it out with you, bring it back or drop it beside a mile marker so organisers can clean up properly.