Tramping without waste

Tramping is a favoured pastime for many Kiwis and it usually involves lugging a bag of plastic waste out of the bush after several days off the grid.

For Amanda Chapman, tramping without generating rubbish was a challenge she took on after taking part in Plastic Free July a few years ago.

Since then, Auckland-based Chapman has blogged about her low-waste journey.

‘‘Tramping is definitely one of the areas where you unfortunately produce waste,’’ she said. ‘‘There is quite an irony to it – you are going out into nature and you have to rely on plastic.’’ Convenience was an issue and many snacks or easy-toeat meals were packaged in plastic.

‘‘You want something that is quick and easy to grab out of your pack but is also lightweight – you do not want to be carrying a glass jar of peanut butter although I have a friend who does.’’

Chapman said preparation before heading off tramping was key. It was the main barrier for people when it came to reducing waste but the trade off was not having to carry a stinky bag of rubbish out of the bush.

When she walked the Heaphy Track, her meals included pasta and grains, cheese that came in wax instead of plastic and snacks like apples and hard-boiled eggs. ‘‘At the end I had a zip-lock bag of compostable waste and I had a small bag of soft plastics. That was really it.’’

One of her favourite tramping meals was nachos but she now steers clear of that as the chips come in a plastic bag.

Chocolate was another favourite in the wilderness but Chapman said most brands used plastic-coated foil that could not be recycled. But Trade Aid chocolate comes in home-compostable packaging.