Why are there no trash bins?

In Triglav National Park and in Slovenian mountain culture, visitors are expected to take their waste back to the valley. This is one of the basic rules of responsible hiking and one of the reasons why you will not find ordinary public trash bins along mountain trails or at many mountain locations.

At Erjavčeva mountain hut, we kindly ask all guests and visitors to follow the same principle: bring as little packaging as possible into the mountains and take your personal waste back with you when you leave.

Why Are There No Public Trash Bins?

Mountain huts are not city hotels. Waste collection in the mountains is difficult, expensive and environmentally sensitive. Every bag of rubbish has to be stored, sorted and transported back down from the mountain. In busy periods, especially during the high summer season, this can quickly become a serious problem.

Trash bins in mountain areas can also attract animals, create bad smells, overflow during busy days and encourage visitors to leave even more waste behind. For this reason, the best solution is simple: what you bring into the mountains, you take back to the valley.

What Should I Do With My Garbage?

Please carry your personal waste with you and dispose of it later in proper waste collection points in the valley. This includes food wrappers, bottles, cans, tissues, wet wipes, cigarette butts, packaging and any other items you brought with you.

If you are staying overnight at Erjavčeva Koča, please ask the hut staff if you are unsure what to do with specific waste. We separate and manage waste from hut operations, but visitors should not treat the hut as a public waste collection point for personal hiking rubbish.

Why This Matters in Triglav National Park

Triglav National Park is a protected alpine environment. Waste left in nature harms wildlife, pollutes soil and water, damages the visitor experience and creates unnecessary work for hut staff, rangers and volunteers.

Responsible waste behaviour is part of the same mountain etiquette as staying on marked trails, saving water, respecting quiet hours and using marked hiking trails around Vršič Pass. Small actions by each visitor make a big difference in a fragile alpine environment.

What About Guests Staying in Private Rooms?

During the high summer season, limited waste facilities may be available for guests staying in private rooms or overnight accommodation, depending on hut operations and access by road. These facilities are intended for normal overnight-stay waste, not for large bags of rubbish brought from hiking, travelling or camping elsewhere.

Because Erjavčeva Koča is located close to an accessible road on Vršič Pass, many short-stop visitors pass through the area. We therefore ask everyone to respect the local mountain tradition and not leave personal rubbish at the hut.

How to Reduce Waste Before Your Hike

• Remove unnecessary packaging before you start your hike.
• Use a reusable water bottle instead of disposable plastic bottles.
• Bring snacks in reusable containers or simple paper wrapping.
• Carry a small bag for your own rubbish.
• Do not leave cigarette butts, tissues or wet wipes in nature.
• Use official waste collection points in the valley.

Simple Rule

If you carried it up, carry it back down. This is the simplest and most respectful way to help keep Erjavčeva Koča, Vršič Pass and Triglav National Park clean.