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I've seen old rusty discarded or lost barrels on the inland ice. It's of course not a pleasant site nor is losing a barrel a positive thing. For one, the barrel's are not cheap. But it raises an interesting philosophical dilemma. Do you leave behind your trash in the accumulation area of the ice sheet where it will become buried for perhaps many thousands of years, doing practically no no environmental harm? Or do you spend fuel, time, energy returning waste to the coast where it is burned in an open pit fire? Well, of course, a barrel would be reused, sparing the cost (environmental and otherwise) of replacement. But what about spent flashlight batteries? I've seen colleagues argue hotly on Greenland ice taking opposing sides with this dilemma. In my case, I pack out all my trash, but just to be burned open pit?
What's your opinion?
Posting on behalf of Bill H. (one of my Facebook friends):
ReplyDeleteWhen early settlers are few and far between, their trash heaps are today's archaeological sites, telling a story of what happened, why they were there and what they were doing.
When people become populated and crowded their trash is just that, trash. So long as it is not toxic and is contained, I would say leave it.