The snow, slush and ice have mostly melted across the country, revealing litter scattered throughout parks, trails, beaches, sidewalks and streets. This plus the warmer spring temperatures make it an ideal time to try plogging – the perfect way to stay active and take care of our precious environment.
What is plogging?
“Plogging” is picking up litter while jogging! The word is a combination of the Swedish phrase plocka upp, which translates to “pick up”, and “jogging”. This environmentally conscious activity was invented in Sweden in 2016 and has since spread across the world. If you can’t or just don’t enjoy jogging, there are variations of plogging:
- “Plalking”: picking up trash while walking.
- “Pliking”: picking up litter while biking or hiking.
Regardless of how you do it, it has the same impact: a cleaner planet and a healthier you!
5 benefits of plogging and its alternatives
Plogging and its variations benefit your own health and that of the Earth and the other living beings that call it home because they…
1. Provide a full-body workout
Not only are plogging and its variations great cardio workouts that get your heart pumping, but they also engage muscles in your legs, butt, core, back and arms because they involve squats, leg bends, twists and lifts as you pick up trash.
2. Make your community cleaner
By plogging, plalking or pliking, you’ll help make your neighbourhood and favourite parks, recreational trails, beaches and waterways pristine so that everyone can enjoy them!
3. Relieve stress
Research shows that being in nature in general is excellent for mental health, so if you plog, plalk or plike in a scenic park or on a beautiful beach, for example, it will help lower your blood pressure and stress hormone levels, making you feel calmer and less stressed.
4. Protect pets and wildlife
Plogging and its alternatives remove trash that dogs, cats, birds, squirrels, raccoons, turtles, frogs, fish and other wildlife could mistake for food.
5. Boost your metabolism and lower your resting heart rate
You can make plogging or pliking a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workout if you jog or cycle at a fast pace, stop to pick up litter, then continue jogging or cycling vigorously. HIIT provides many benefits, from boosting your metabolism to lowering your resting heart rate.
Before reading our plogging tips, let’s test your knowledge of it so far!
How to get started with plogging and its variations
1. Bring the right gear
- Comfortable footwear: Wear running, walking, cycling or hiking shoes.
- Disposable gloves: Protect your hands from germs and dirt with disposable gloves. Don’t pick up dangerous objects like needles or broken glass.
- Trash and recycling bags: Collect trash in a durable bag like a reusable shopping bag or a plastic kitchen garbage or recycling bag. If you’re jogging, walking or hiking, clip the bag to your waist or belt so you don’t have to carry it. If you’re cycling, store it in a pannier, basket or backpack so it doesn’t get caught in your bicycle gears.
2. Make it social
- Invite family members, friends or co-workers to tag along – you could even compete to collect the most trash or turn it into a scavenger hunt!
- Become a member of a local running, walking, cycling or hiking club and plog, plalk or plike with other members
- Join the Plogging Canada Facebook group to connect with other ploggers.
3. Share your plogging progress
After plogging, plalking or pliking, take a photo of all the litter you collected and share it on social media using the hashtag #Plogging and tagging @ParticipACTION. You might just inspire others to try plogging or one of its alternatives themselves.
Plogging and its variations are simple but impactful ways to get active while taking care of our precious planet, benefiting your own health and the Earth’s. So, lace up your shoes, grab a trash bag, put on gloves and get plogging, plalking or pliking – your body and Mother Nature will thank you!
