With spring here and the snow melting away, it’s hard to turn a blind eye to the litter and garbage that has been left behind. That’s why we’re encouraging you to get out and go plogging! If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a new activity where you pick up litter while out jogging. It originates from Sweden, combining the Swedish phrase ‘plocka upp’ and jogging. If going for a run isn’t your thing, you can also go ‘plalking,’ which is picking up litter while walking.
Above everything else, be safe while you’re plogging! Here’s a list of things to keep in mind while you’re out being active:
- Go plogging during the day. It’s easier to see litter on the ground while it’s still light outside.
- Wear reflective or bright coloured clothing. This will make you more visible to cars and others in the community.
- Use gloves! We can’t stress this enough. If you’re going to be picking up litter, keep your hands clean by wearing durable gloves. If you have grabbing sticks, use those while you’re plogging as well.
- Work in a group if possible. Plogging is more fun when you have others to share your experience with. More eyes on the road increases your chance to spot litter one person may have missed.
- Carry bags around with you. Depending on the material you find, you can sort it into garbage and recycling. Going with a group distributes the work evenly with some people carrying the bags, and others picking up the litter.
- Do not touch, disturb or pick up dead animals or any items you are unsure of. This includes needles and syringes or any type of container filled with chemicals, pesticides or bio-hazardous materials.
Right now we are hosting a plogging contest over on our Facebook page. Upload a picture of you plogging in your community for the chance to win some great prizes, including a gift card to Sport Chek! You can find the full details on our Facebook contest page here: https://simplyrecycle.app.do/do-some-plogging-in-your-community. Feel free to send us an email at info@inmotion.dfmdemos.com or reach out on our Facebook page if you have any questions about the contest, or plogging. Good luck!
