Mel Morone has been a Trail Ambassador with VVMTA for two summers. Hailing from the great state of Maryland, she found herself drawn to the wide open spaces of Colorado after she graduated from Penn State University. In her free time, Mel enjoys a good hike —no matter the season—and loves to share her passion for trails, Leave No Trace, wildflower identification, and advocating for our natural spaces. Here’s Mel on a topic that has become a passion project this summer.
This summer has been filled with positive experiences—connecting with trail users, doing trail work, educating tourists and locals, and sharing the mission of Vail Valley Mountain Trails Alliance.
But one thing continues to bug me every time I’m out trying to enjoy the natural world: trash on trails.
It’s one of my biggest pet peeves simply because it’s so preventable. From microplastics and snack wrappers to discarded dog waste bags—and even the occasional lone shoe at a trailhead—the variety of litter we find is disheartening. The solution isn’t complicated. It comes down to personal responsibility. Education matters, but ultimately, our individual actions ripple outward to affect our community, our ecosystems, and our planet.
Once You See It, You Can’t Unsee It
Most trails aren’t buried in garbage. Sometimes you can hike for miles and not notice a thing—and that’s the goal: pristine wilderness.
But once you start paying attention, the problem becomes hard to ignore—especially at trailheads where trash cans are limited or inaccessible. That’s where the “lazy decisions” show up: dog poop bags tossed on top of already-full bins, water bottles abandoned in parking lots, wrappers stuffed behind signs.
So here’s a simple question: Can you take that extra step?
- Keep a trash bag in your car.
- Save a pocket in your pack for trash.
- And please—always pack out your dog waste.
The Dog Waste Dilemma
Let’s be honest—dog waste bags are one of the biggest issues we see. Most owners start with good intentions, but those colorful bags often get left behind.
Here’s why it matters:
- Plastic Pollution: Around 6.5 million tons of mostly plastic-wrapped dog poop ends up in U.S. landfills each year (US EPA).
- Daily Waste: The average dog produces roughly ¾ of a pound of waste per day (Freeman).
- Ecological Impact: Dog waste disrupts ecosystems, leaches into watersheds, and creates unsanitary conditions for trail users.
- Decomposition Time: Even unbagged, dog waste can take months to decompose (Pell). In a state like Colorado, where nearly 65% of households own a dog (WPR, 2024), the sheer concentration of waste is staggering.
What’s the solution?
Some parks have tried biodegradable paper bags, which reduce plastic waste but cost more to implement. Bags labeled “biodegradable” vary in effectiveness, but products meeting ASTM D6400 certification are truly compostable. That said, most composting facilities aren’t set up to process pet waste yet.
So for now, the best answer is simple: carry it out, every time.
Building a Culture of Accountability
As trail ambassadors, we pick up trash and abandoned dog waste bags every day. It’s not just about keeping trails pretty—it’s about protecting the ecosystems we all rely on.
Here’s what helps:
- Start a conversation: A friendly reminder on the trail can stick.
- Better signage: Clear messages at trailheads go a long way.
- More presence: Volunteers and staff make a visible difference.
- Community clean-ups: Nothing builds stewardship like pitching in together.
Keep It Beautiful
Trash on trails isn’t unique to Eagle County or Colorado—it’s a widespread issue across the world. But that doesn’t mean we’re powerless. Awareness is the first step toward change. Next time you’re out hiking, take a second to look around. Enjoy the view. Pick up that stray wrapper. Carry out your own trash—and maybe a little extra. Let’s keep these trails beautiful. Let’s leave them better than we found them.
Check out our Trail Ambassador’s Summer 2025 Stats to see their impact:
- Trail Ambassador Shifts: 107
- Trail User Encounters: 2305
- Trail User Conversations: 1158
- Fire: 90
- Trash & Human Waste: 101
- Camping: 59
- Dog: 53
- Pounds of Trash Collected: 30.46
- # of Dog Poop Bags Collected: 55
- Pieces of Trash Collected: 2,000+ including wrappers, poop bags, cans, ziplocks, even a sandal and a pair of sunglasses!
Interested in becoming a volunteer? Contact Natalie at natalie@vvmta.org to learn more!
