by Carla Caruso

Ever heard of plogging? Or even plalking?

We hadn’t either. But it’s something not-for-profit organisation Clean Up Australia is urging nature lovers to get into.

Plogging combines two words – ‘jogging’ and the Swedish phrase for ‘pick up’, plocka upp.

Basically, it means you get fit while making a difference: picking up litter. And if you’d rather not jog, you’re free to walk (‘plalk’), hike or paddle instead.

As local Instagrammer PlalkingSA says: “A walk a day keeps the litter at bay.”

*Melbourne site* ***The Plastic Runner*** *“like running and the environment, so we put them together!”*

Taking things further, Clean Up Australia has teamed up with the app, Nextdoor, to challenge people across Oz to show their love for their surrounds by cleaning it up #OneBagAtATime.

They say: “Small acts lead to big change.” (There are prizes up for grabs until November 15.) Ambassador Michael Mocatta has already collected over 1.6 tonnes of rubbish in NSW’s South Turramurra.

APA held a Clean Up Australia event at Narnungga Urban Forest in September, with disposable masks and confectionery wrappers among the common items found. A tyre, kennel and filter couldn’t fit into the bags!

Register your plog with Clean Up Australia here or simply head out on your normal exercise route, collecting rubbish as you go – maybe even the next time you’re on the Adelaide Park Lands Trail!

In September, our organisation held a Clean Up Australia event at Narnungga Urban Forest, with volunteers filling 17 bags of rubbish over two hours.

Globally, 100,000 marine mammals die every year because of plastic pollution. Keeping even a single piece of plastic out of our oceans could help save a marine animal’s life.

*Instagrammer PlalkingSA shared this pic of balls collected while out walking. The items were washed and donated to the RSPCA for its pets.*

To make sure you plog safely, Clean Up Australia offers some tips, including:

• Wear gloves and use hand sanitiser before, during and after your plog.

• 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. It is best to leave dangerous items and alert local authorities or your council to see if they can assist in their removal.

• 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.

• To avoid repetitive strain, you can purchase a rubbish picker. They are a lot of fun and save you bending down.

• Remember to pause and take a picture of your plog – whether it’s you appreciating the outdoor environment or collecting rubbish, the organisation would love to see your selfies!