Plogging is a fitness trend that started in 2016. It refers to jogging while picking up litter.

Developed by Erik Ahlström from Sweden, it is a mix of the Swedish term plocka upp (pick up) and jogging. Plogging offers many rewards for both the environment and the person performing it.

How It Works

Plogging is a trend that incorporates jogging with cleaning up the environment. While a person is out for a jog, they are encouraged to pick up litter that they find along the way. The jogger can carry a small bag or receptacle to contain the garbage they find.

Plogging can be done alone or through an organized event called a “Plogga.” This movement is aimed at changing people’s attitudes toward the environment while improving their health.

The plogging community also encourages people to pick up litter during other activities, such as walking, skateboarding, cycling, and even swimming. To keep people interested in the movement, they have announced that October is “Plogtober.” They have reported that over 3 million people have participated in over 100 countries.

Potential Benefits

Positive Environmental Impact

A recent study found that litter has decreased on U.S. roads by 54% since 2009. But there are still significant quantities of litter. The Keep America Beautiful 2020 National Litter Study found that at that time:

• 50 billion pieces of litter along U.S. roadways and waterways
• 152 litter items per U.S. resident
• 2,000 pieces of litter per mile
• Cigarette butts are the most littered item

Plogging encourages people to take action and pick up litter they find along their jogs. This movement can decrease the amount of litter in the United States.

Health Benefits

Jogging and squatting down to pick up garbage is both a cardiovascular and strength workout. The benefits of jogging include:

Safety Tips

Plogging is a safe activity, but exercise and picking up trash have a few inherent risks. Coming into contact with trash from unknown sources can be risky. Below are a few safety tips to keep yourself safe while you help the environment and get a workout in:

• Wear gloves
• Wear a brightly colored safety vest or bright clothing, especially at dusk and nighttime
• Avoid picking up hazardous material or medical waste
• Bring a water bottle along to stay hydrated
• Wash or sanitize hands after handling trash

Summary

Plogging is a fitness trend that incorporates both exercise and cleaning up the environment. When a person goes out for a jog they are encouraged to also pick up trash and litter. Combining these two activities has gained popularity and is now celebrated every October as “Plogtober.”