travel and rhum

I've noticed this in at least 4 different (popular, easy) trails in my city over the past 2 years… someone put small piles of shredded paper along the trail, at distances of roughly every 1-4 minutes. They stayed there all year getting soggy in the rain until they finally got covered up by fallen leaves in the fall. It really took away from the hiking experience.

Why would people do this? Was it some kind of trail-marking/wayfinding activity (unnecessary as these trails are extremely well marked and family-friendly)? Getting rid of sensitive documents? Leaving nesting materials for squirrels?