People in Lofoten are tired of having nature and gardens soiled by excrement from tourists. In the absence of public toilets, visitors to Lofotodden National Park defecate in nature and near streams where water bottles are filled. In the same streams, high levels of scary E. coli bacteria have been found. E.coli can cause diarrhea and abdominal pain, as well as in some cases bloody diarrhoea. This year Lofotodden National Park is introducing a trial project with poo bags for humans. Last summer alone, there were around 50,000 visitors to the national park in Flakstad and Moskenes. Today is the premiere for the new arrangement. 400 bags have been placed out, in addition to a container where the full bags can be thrown away. This is what the container looks like where visitors can throw the full poo bags. Photo: Kasper Holgersen / news During the trial period until 4 August, the bags will be distributed free of charge at Torsfjorden and at Innersand, at the approach gates and the start of the trail to Kvalvika. One of the first tourists to receive a bag is the German tourist Daniel Ernst, who has visited Lofoten every summer since 2008. He says that he always has a spade in his bag which he uses to dig holes in the ground, where he does what is necessary . – I always take the toilet paper back with me, he says. Ernst gets excited when he sees the new poop bags for humans. – There is a lot of plastic waste in nature, but if people are good at throwing it in waste containers, this is a brilliant scheme, says German Daniel Ernst. Photo: Kasper Holgersen / news – It’s a great solution. Now I don’t have to dig holes in the ground. At the same time, he emphasizes that holes in the ground are a more environmentally friendly solution than carrying several such bags on a long trip. – There is a lot of plastic in nature that is rubbish, he states. See what the tourists think about the poo bag in the photo series: Per Hermansson would like to use the poo bag if he needs it. Hans Christian Hoel Freberg in Lofotodden National Park has not heard of the poo bag before. But he thinks he could use it: – Yes, why not? I’m curious about that, says Freberg. Jakob Helleberg knows what the poo bag is: – It’s great. If it pollutes so much, then you have to do what is necessary. Swedish Per Hermansson, who is going on a day trip, is also interested in the new bags. – Is it for both “kiss and poo”, he asks. He has never heard of poo bags for humans before, but will certainly be involved in testing. – If it can help solve the pollution problems, that’s great, says Hermansson. This is how to use the poo bags, according to the information sign in Lofotodden National Park. Excited about the reception National Park Manager Ole-Jakob Kvalshaug in Lofotodden National Park is excited about how the bags will be received. He stands at the start of the tour in Torsfjorden and explains to the tourists how the scheme works. In addition, there will be people handing out bags at the start of the tour to Kvalvika. – There will be signage and a sort of station where you can pick up the poo bags. Just open the box and use the poo bags. Ole-Jakob Kvalshaug shows off the poo bag for people in Lofotodden National Park. He himself is looking forward to testing the bags out in nature. – Furthermore, there is an inner bag that you can tie around your waist and do the job. Then you can stuff the bag into a slightly more robust outer bag with a ziplock, says Kvalshaug. Bacteria cannot get lost and the bag has an odor lock. 80 percent of the bag is biodegradable. Lofoten will be the first to come out with poo bags for humans – It must be sufficiently robust and odorless, so that you can carry the bag back again. And that is quite important. It’s not a poo bag we leave in nature. After use, the bag is placed in a container, which is later handled by a waste company. – Important supplement for camping equipment Lofoten is the first in the country to offer poo bags for humans. Kvalshaug hopes that in the long term there will be a market for selling the poo bags in Norway. Because it is not just in Lofotodden that this is a problem. KVALVIKA: Lofotodden National Park is one of the smallest we have in the country. But with its 99 square kilometers, this is where you will find some of the most distinctive landscape we have in Norway. Photo: Hennie Engedal – There are many places in Norway both inside and outside national parks where there are so-called hotspots where there are many visitors and tents, where can you have challenges with such things, he says. And adds: – I want it to be an important addition to your camping equipment, just like your camping kitchen is. Can you imagine pooping in a bag when you’re on a trip? 💩 Of course! We must take care of nature. No thanks. It sounds demanding. Show result – But why can’t you just build toilets in the area? – It is a national park, where there should be nature without major technical interventions. In addition, Kvalvika is located on the outer side of Lofotodden. Toilets require maintenance and operation, and that is a challenge. You cannot get in by boat, so the only access is to walk over the mountain. Lofotodden National Park Located at the far end of Lofoten in the municipalities of Moskenes and Flakstad. The majority of the park is land area (86 km2), while 13 km2 is sea area. The national park is characterized by the nature types bare rock, wilderness and scrubland. Mountain moors, tundra and treeless moors below the forest line also feature extensively in the area. Important nesting areas for seabirds, especially cormorant and teal. Also colonies of osprey, sea eagle and golden eagle. Of the red-listed species, we find in particular mountain grebe, grebe and sandpiper. The cave paintings in Kollhellaren and Bukkhammerhola have been there since the Stone Age people painted them on the cave wall around 3,000 years ago. Is national park number 40 on the mainland Source: Ministry of Climate and the Environment POPULAR: Lofotodden National Park is very well located for people who want fine nature experiences. Photo: Benjamin Fredriksen / news
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Poo bags in Lofotodden National Park – news Nordland
