Editor:
The trails on Burnaby Mountain have been a wonderful place for relaxation, socially-distanced activity, and enjoyment of nature during the 2-1/2 years of the pandemic.
However, the increased use of the trails has been accompanied by littering. A particular eyesore are the white facial/sanitary tissues that are discarded on the trails or a short distance in the bush (see attached photos).
One reason sanitary tissues are discarded along the trails may be due to the lack of knowledge of the availability of public toilets on Burnaby Mountain. There is a public toilet on the Powerline Trail but it is not shown on the maps in the seventeen Information Kiosks around the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area. Nor is it shown on the digital map (last updated in 2016!) available for downloading and viewing on portable smartphones from the City of Burnaby website. Are public toilets available elsewhere?
If a public toilet or trash bin is not near during a walk, then people should carry a small plastic bag to hold used facial/sanitary tissues to discard at home.
At the very least, a facial/sanitary tissue should be dropped off the trail and covered with a handful of leaves and twigs from the forest floor. This simple action eliminates an eyesore and promotes decomposition.
Help keep our parks beautiful by not littering.
- Derek Wilson, Port Moody, Burnaby Mountain visitor
