On two of the world’s most beloved mountain landscapes—Wales’ Yr Wyddfa (also known as Snowdon) and the Great Smoky Mountains in the United States—efforts to combat litter and preserve natural beauty are taking center stage this summer. With volunteers and authorities ramping up clean-up initiatives and governments introducing new policies, the fight against single-use pollution and environmental degradation is gaining fresh momentum. But as these efforts unfold, the challenges and complexities of keeping iconic peaks pristine remain front and center.
In Wales, campaigners and volunteers have long waged a battle against the tide of rubbish that threatens Yr Wyddfa, the country’s highest mountain and a magnet for climbers and tourists. According to BBC Wales, more than 1,500 kilograms of rubbish are removed from the mountain every year—a staggering figure that underscores the scale of the problem. Volunteers, organized by partners such as the Eryri National Park, the National Trust, Cymdeithas Eryri, and Trash Free Trails, conduct over 100 litter picks annually. The vast majority of litter is found right on Yr Wyddfa itself, with single-use plastics and snack wrappers among the most common items.
During a recent two-hour litter pick on the Llanberis Path, volunteers collected 277 items of single-use pollution from just a 1.8-mile (3 km) stretch. As reported by BBC Wales, the most common material found was plastic, while snacks represented the largest category. Other items included dog poo bags (almost 5%), tissue or wet wipes (8%), smoking-related waste (10%), and fruit peel (6%). These figures paint a vivid picture of the daily reality facing those who strive to keep the mountain clean.
Owain Thomas, a regular volunteer at clean-up events, captured the frustration many feel: "It's a very rewarding thing to do with my free time, but it's endless—you clean up rubbish on a Saturday and it's back there on Wednesday. It can feel like it's a sinking ship—you're constantly bailing out the water and it just keeps coming back." His words echo the sense of futility that sometimes accompanies even the most determined efforts.
But hope is on the horizon. The Welsh government has announced a new deposit return scheme, due to launch in October 2027, which will offer money or vouchers to people who return empty bottles and cans. Similar initiatives are set to roll out across other parts of the UK at the same time. The scheme is expected to have a significant impact: "In Wales, 28% of all the single-use pollution we find is things that would be part of the deposit return scheme. So, overnight, we could remove almost a third of the items that are out on these trails," said Heather Friendship-Kay from Trash Free Trails, speaking to BBC Wales.
However, the picture on Yr Wyddfa is a bit more complicated. Only about 15% of the litter found on the mountain would actually be eligible for the deposit return scheme—lower than the national average. While the scheme undoubtedly represents progress, campaigners caution that it is not a silver bullet. "People keep telling us we shouldn't have to spend so much time clearing up the mountain. A deposit return scheme would change the way we think about single-use items. At the moment, drinks companies are expecting people like us to subsidise them by picking up their litter, and the scheme will help change that," said Rory Francis, director of Cymdeithas Eryri.
Yet, as Francis and others acknowledge, the solution to Yr Wyddfa’s litter problem cannot rest solely with governments or drinks companies. The actions of individuals remain crucial. Etta Morgan from the Eryri National Park Authority emphasized this point, urging visitors to adopt a "leave no trace" approach: "Lasting change relies on the actions of every individual who visits. 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."
The environmental consequences of persistent littering are far from trivial. Robbie Blackhall-Miles, from the charity Plantlife, highlighted a sobering detail: "At the summit, up to 5% of the soil is made of plastic—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. The removal of any waste from the mountain is going to reduce the impacts of all of that."
Despite the ongoing challenges, there are glimmers of progress. National park officials note that rubbish levels on Yr Wyddfa have stabilized, even as increasing numbers of people make the trek to the summit. This stabilization suggests that persistent clean-up efforts and public awareness campaigns are making a difference, though the job is far from done.
Across the Atlantic, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, a different kind of clean-up is underway. From August 25 through August 28, 2025, drivers on the Spur—a key route through the park—should expect temporary single-lane closures as crews carry out essential road maintenance. The National Park Service announced that the work will take place daily from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with the possibility of additional closures from September 2 through September 4 if more time is needed.
The maintenance work includes mowing and pruning, cleaning ditches and culverts, picking up litter, and removing tree and rock debris. While the primary goal is to ensure road safety and accessibility, the clean-up of litter is a crucial component. According to GSMNP officials, drivers may experience short traffic delays during the closure periods, but the long-term benefits to both the environment and visitor experience are expected to outweigh these temporary inconveniences.
The efforts in the Great Smoky Mountains underscore the importance of regular maintenance and the removal of debris—not just for aesthetic reasons, but to protect the delicate ecosystem that draws millions of visitors each year. By tackling litter alongside other maintenance tasks, the National Park Service aims to preserve the park’s natural beauty for generations to come.
Both the Welsh and American examples highlight a universal truth: keeping natural treasures clean is a shared responsibility, requiring action from governments, organizations, and—perhaps most importantly—ordinary people. Whether it’s through innovative policies like deposit return schemes, the tireless work of volunteers, or routine maintenance by park staff, every effort counts in the ongoing struggle to protect our most cherished landscapes.
As the world’s mountains continue to beckon adventurers and nature lovers alike, the message from campaigners and officials is clear: take only memories, leave only footprints. The future of these magnificent places depends on it.
