We all want to be good and considerate stewards when we visit and hike on Ruffner Mountain, right?
We like the Leave No Trace Seven Principles from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics:
1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find.
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of other visitors.
These are good rules for anyone visiting the outdoors!
Disposing of waste properly is a big one here. We understand that sometimes trash is dropped or left behind by accident, but the impact on nature is nevertheless the same.
How long will it be there? You might be surprised.
plastic bottle: 100-1000 years
aluminum can: 200 years
wet wipe: 100 years
plastic bag: 10-20 years
cigarette butt: 10 years
wrappers: 5 years
orange peel: 2 years
cardboard: 3 months
paper: 2-6 weeks