CleanAlp | Frequently Asked Questions

But is there plastic pollution in the mountains?

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Plastic pollution is normally associated with the sea and urban areas, with very little research having been conducted on mountainous areas: it is generally believed that these are exempt. This is incorrect. In recent years, some research has begun to document the presence of microplastics in glaciers, and a couple of studies—one in the French Pyrenees and one in the Alps, in which we also participated in 2019—have found microplastics in mountain snow, but always in limited areas. We therefore thought it was time to take systematic action for the Alps, which are already severely affected by climate change. We therefore promoted the 'Stop the Alps becoming plastic mountains' project in 2021, which produced the first ever research on microplastics in snow over a large area and throughout the entire winter season. In 2022, we therefore wanted to propose a new project which, in addition to action on various levels such as awareness raising, education, training, and prevention, focused on research by documenting the type and brands of objects (where recognizable) scattered in the Alpine environment. With CleanAlp2, we are greatly expanding and deepening this work: we are taking action in Liguria, Piedmont, and Valle d'Aosta, with the aim of then extending the activity to all the Alps and other Italian mountains, focusing on raising awareness of the situation, educating young people and children, professional training and stakeholder training, prevention activities with the strengthening and promotion of the local economy as an element (also) of protection of the alpine environment.

What can I do to address the problem?

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Lots of things! When we go hiking, we need to reduce the number of items we carry with us to the bare minimum: the fewer there are, the lower the risk of losing them. Choose to carry food and drinks purchased in bulk (in water bottles or reusable containers). Always store 'empty' containers in closed containers or pockets, not loosely hanging from your backpack or tucked into open pockets. If you hang shoes, sandals, hats, gloves, tools, etc. on your backpack, make sure they are securely fastened (e.g., with a carabiner) to avoid losing them during the hike. Always check your equipment to ensure that every part (poles, boots, backpack) is secure and not wobbly (buckles, caps, and tips, etc.).

What types of activities do volunteers do during excursions?

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CleanALP volunteers mainly take part in clean-up hikes during which they collect waste, especially plastic, along alpine trails. In addition, volunteers help monitor local biodiversity and contribute to raising awareness of the importance of preserving the alpine ecosystem. Each hike is led by experts who provide instruction and support.

How can I become a CleanAlp volunteer?

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Becoming a CleanALP volunteer is easy! You can find our contact details in the "Get involved" section of our website, where you can write to us and join the volunteer team. Once you have signed up, you will receive information about upcoming excursions and clean-up activities. Whether you have experience or not, we are happy to welcome anyone who wants to contribute to the protection of our mountains.

Can I throw away food scraps when I'm out in nature?

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No, never. Peels (such as banana peels) are biologically completely foreign to the high-altitude environment, are potentially perfect hosts for pathogens that can have a severe impact on such a delicate environment, and also take a very, very long time to decompose (thus multiplying the risk of ecological impact). It doesn't take much: let's put everything in a bag and take it home (not to the parking lot), thus helping the valley community to manage waste in the best possible way.

Can I throw paper tissues away in the environment? Isn't it true that they decompose quickly?

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No. Let's bring a bag to store used tissues (even worse are wet wipes, which are made of plastic): leaving them in the environment means abandoning an object that by definition (whatever use we have made of it) contains bacteria that are totally foreign to that type of environment. Furthermore, the object is treated to resist when we blow our nose, and therefore their decomposition in an environment such as high altitude is particularly long and complex.

Isn't the problem of waste caused by rude and uncivilized people who rarely visit the mountains?

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No. From a scientific point of view, based on data collected over the last 15-20 years, it is believed that incorrect behavior accounts for no more than 20% of total plastic pollution on the planet. In the mountains, we can assume that this percentage is higher, due to the dynamics and type of use of this environment, but it is still a small minority of the total. Unawareness, unintentionality, and carelessness have a much greater impact. When you come with us on an excursion, we can explore this topic in more depth and observe this reality firsthand.

Is special equipment required to participate in CleanAlp excursions?

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No special equipment is required. However, we recommend wearing comfortable clothing suitable for hiking, hiking boots, and bringing a water bottle, sunscreen, and, if possible, gloves for collecting waste. CleanALP will provide all the necessary materials such as waste bags and tongs. If you have any doubts, please consult the suggested equipment list that we will send you after registration.

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