Curious about plogging?

Have you noticed large amounts of waste while jogging and walking around especially in coastal areas, or on street fringes? According to a CSIRO Report, within Australia approximately three-quarters of the rubbish along the coast is plastic mostly from Australian sources (as opposed to International) with density of plastic ranging from a few thousand pieces of plastic per square kilometre to more than 40,000 pieces of plastic per square kilometre.

Whichever way, it is now in the environment. Waiting to catch some water drift and float out to sea, get caught in a tree’s branch to hang there as a stark reminder of plastic’s lack of bio-degradation. Or to get eaten by wildlife that may lead to disablement and death.

So what are we going to do? Are we going to see the following items on our next run and walk, and simply pass it by? Or are we going to remember the facts and let that motivate us to do more? And truly,what could be better than getting fitter by picking up litter?

Plastics:

Did you know according to a recent report by the NSW Government that NSW consumed 1.1 million tonnes of plastic in 2017-18 which was mainly from household items and packaging? It’s predicted that by 2050 the weight of plastic in the sea will outweigh that of fish. This indeed is very sobering.

If this wasn’t bad enough CSIRO researchers showed that 43% of Short-Tailed Shearwaters have plastic in their gut, and they predict that plastic ingestion may reach 95% of all seabird species by 2050.

Straws:

This very superfluous piece of plastic, used only for a few minutes usually, has massive demand with Australians using 10 million straws a day! But is it really worthwhile when you know what harrowing things it can do to marine life?

Ear buds:

Can I say anything more about the seahorse carrying a plastic cotton bud image? This, if anything, absolutely confirms what a difference plogging can make

Styrofoam/polystyrene:

According to the Australia Packaging Covenant only 29.7% of expanded polystyrene used for packaging is recycled as the small pieces often get contaminated making it not suitable for recycling. So the rest ends up, once again, in our landfills and surrounding environments flown away for miles from its source.

Coffee cups:

With Australians using more than 113 coffee cups every 4 seconds and these vestibules of morning joy mostly not making it to recycling plants, they wreak havoc on our oceans and surrounding environments.

So now we have some numbers under our belt, what can we do? PLOG OF COURSE!

A portmanteau of "jog" and the Swedish for "pick up", "plocka upp", it means, you guessed it; to pick up litter as you jog (or plod - plalkers are encouraged!). Started by a Swedish community incentive to pick up rubbish in Stockholm this is now, no surprise to its good marriage between exercise and environmental action, a global craze.

Held over the next three months, the Clean Up Australia PLOG-A-THON is the perfect way to get out in your local area. Socially responsible, physically distant exercise that leads to a cleaner environment and community - what’s not to love?

REGISTER YOUR PLOG!

The Clean Up Australia PLOG-A-THON is a fundraising event, with an entry fee of $20 including a complimentary plogging kit containing gloves, hand sanitser and rubbish bags. This entry fee covers the cost of the kit materials and postage, as well as a small contribution to provide free educational resources and clean up materials to schools, youth groups and community groups throughout the year.

Your support is vital to the success of Clean Up programs, and will help educate the next generation on the importance of protecting and caring for our environment.

While you’re a trusty plogger or plalker, remember the flip side. The rubbish you’re picking up might not be any old rubbish, but reduce-able rubbish that may have started at your home. Can your household do more to step up and cut down on waste?

So happy plogging and plalking and remember, from little things big things grow!