THE COMPLETE PLOGGING GUIDE
Everything you need to know to start plogging!
Plogging is the combination of two words: “jogging” and the Swedish phrase for pick up, “plocka upp” and it means you get exercise and make a difference – all while maintaining your social distance. And really, what’s not to love about getting fitter while picking up litter?
And the best bit? You don’t even have to jog … any exercise will do ... walking, hiking, paddling, you can do it all!
HOW TO PLAN A PLOG
Plogging can be as simple as you heading out on your normal route - with your gloves and a bag, collecting rubbish as you go. Or, it can be a great opportunity to plan a group-plog with friends and family, or your business, sporting club, fitness or community association (we have materials to help you promote your plog here)
Involving your family, friends, colleagues and community means you will cover more ground and collect more litter. You can even set up a plog where you have several people as a relay, marking segments you will cover along a course.

BEFORE
Read the safety and equipment information below, register your plog with us, and you’re ready to go.
You can plan your route, either by identifying an area you know in your local neighbourhood that has become a rubbish hot-spot, or simply wandering locally - you will be surprised how much rubbish is hidden around bushes and along pathways.
If you use an activity tracker or app to log your fitness progress, you can link this to your plog.
We are encouraging ploggers to dispose of rubbish collected through their own household kerbside collections, as typically the amount of rubbish collected is small enough to manage individually.
If however you are conducting a larger community or group plog in accordance with social distancing rules, and/or you know a particular locale where your plog will result in a large amount of rubbish being collected, contact us and we’ll work with you to liaise with your local council and ascertain if they could collect the rubbish at an agreed pickup location and time.
For managing larger clean ups, there are plenty of resources available here.
DURING
Collect rubbish in your rubbish bag/s and make safety a priority by wearing personal protective equipment (including closed-toe shoes) and sun protection, travelling at a careful pace, avoiding trip hazards and observing foot traffic rules.
Take pictures! Remember to pause and take a picture of your plog - whether it’s you appreciating the outdoor environment or collecting rubbish, we would love to see your selfies! – tag us on Facebook or Instagram @cleanupaustralia #stepuptocleanup
AFTER
When you return from your plog, don’t forget to finish your activity tracking and share it with the world! Record and celebrate the distance you plogged.
Take a picture of the rubbish you collected, preferably laid out flat (before you dispose of it). These are interesting images to compare and share so we can help understand the rubbish problems in your local area.
Make sure you sort and dispose the rubbish as best you can. If you took just one bag plogging, try sorting it into recyclables and non-recyclables when you get home.
Check with your local council for what can and cannot be recycled in your kerbside bins.
For a group and community plog, remember to let us know who needs a Thank You certificate by either QR coding your participant’s details or sending us a list of email addresses with names attached to cleanup@cleanup.com.au
Don’t forget to complete the End Of Plog Report - it’s a 5 minute survey which will help us tally the nation's largest plogging effort and understand the type and location of rubbish you found on your plog. You can access this report by logging into your account and visiting the My Litter tab.
SAFETY FIRST
PLOGGING ON YOUR OWN?
Simply register with us to get your plogging kit (though if you’re under the age of 18 you’ll need adult consent)
Every registered group plog must have at least one person over 18 years who will oversee the event and ensure safety requirements are observed.
Ensure everyone registers with Clean Up via the QR code before you get underway or has joined the online team you are hosting. We recommend showing the information in the Clean Up Australia Risk Warning poster (available to download here) and having a first aid kit handy.
For group or community plogs, you might like to hold a safety briefing at the start of the event. This should outline the route plan and check everyone has the correct safety equipment. Remind people of safe plogging advice and any road rules or terrain hazards. Recommend ways to plog safely, according to the Safe Plogging Guide below.
Clean Up Australia provides public liability insurance for all individuals registered with us (this insurance does not include watercraft exceeding 10m in length).
WHERE IS IT SAFE TO PLOG?
Your safety is our #1 concern, so Clean Up Australia cannot accept plogging registrations along roadways, verges or at unpatrolled beaches.
Designated footpaths and walkways are fine – so long as you keep to the path and are separated from vehicles by a kerb or similar barrier.
If you are plogging through bushland, please keep to defined path/walkways.
And keep an eye out for other pathway users – it’s easy to lose sight of others when you are bending for rubbish.
SAFE PLOGGING GUIDE
Plogging is a great way to get fit, and it can be a full-body workout! Here are some tips to make sure you plog safely:
- Dress in comfortable running gear including active wear and enclosed shoes or joggers. We also recommend you wear weather-appropriate attire, including sun protection such as a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen SPF20+. Take note of any forecast weather and be prepared.
- Use hand sanitiser (provided in your Clean Up Plogging Kit) before, during and after your plog.
- Observe social distancing restrictions in accordance with your State/Territory and keep at least 1.5m away from other people.
- Only ever plog at a pace you feel comfortable, especially as there is the added element of bending down picking up rubbish.
- Bend from your knees! Even though the typical rubbish items you are lifting are not heavy, you may be bending over frequently to pick them up. This can cause back pain and other problems if you don’t bend down correctly. Here’s the correct lifting technique recommended from Health and Injury prevention Australia:
- Lunge it out! Take the opportunity while picking up rubbish to add more to your workout and lunge! Here’s the correct lunging technique from Anytime Fitness:
- To avoid repetitive strain, you can purchase a rubbish picker via the plogging registration process or in our store here. They are a lot of fun and save you bending down!
- DO NOT pick up any dangerous items or anything which poses a potential health hazard such as syringes, broken glass, nappies, condoms or any personal hygiene equipment such as face masks or gloves. It is best to leave them and alert local authorities or your Council to see if they can assist in the removal of the item/s. This includes any heavy items, any illegal dumping of household items, unmarked drums, asbestos or building materials.
- If rubbish has been left in the environment for a long time, it can sometimes act as a habitat for animals, particularly marine animals. Please be mindful of the potential impacts of removal if it looks like the rubbish may have become part of the habitat.
- If you encounter any wildlife in distress during your plog, please contact WIRES Wildlife Rescue on 1300 094 737 for assistance.
- If you find abandoned cars, weapons or suspicious items, contact your local police immediately.
- If any incidents or emergencies occur, please call 000 or the relevant emergency service in your local area. Also, please report the incident to Clean Up Australia and complete an Accident / Incident form, available to download here.
- If your clean up involves specialised activities (i.e. kayaking, diving, hiking etc.) please ensure that participants are properly trained and/or certified.
PLOGGING EQUIPMENT
By registering as part of the Clean Up Australia PLOG-A-THON you will receive a Plogging Kit, which includes gloves and two types or rubbish bags - one for general rubbish and one for recyclables. You don’t need to take both as you can sort rubbish once you get back home.
There are additional items available in the Plog-a-Thon registration process or from our store. These include a picker, safety vest, first aid kit, and Step Up to Clean Up T-Shirts, socks and Clean Up Australia caps.
You can use an activity tracker or app so you can record the distance and location of your plog. See below on advice to link this to your Plog-a-Thon event under Clean Up Australia’s website.
It may be handy to use a small backpack or bumbag to carry hand sanitiser, water, phone, and any other equipment.
HOW TO TRACK YOUR PROGRESS
When you register for your plogging event, you will be able to track and record your activity (kilometres travelled) when you are logged in to our website. When you first register, you are asked to set up a username and password. Once you log in, and select the plogging event, you will be able to see several tabs across the top:
Inspire your family and friends to make a change by sharing your pledge and tagging @CleanUpAustralia #CleanUpAustralia
Clean Up Australia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of Country throughout Australia and their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.