Completely Trashed

We should definitely try solving this issue for the long term, but in the short term, I've realized I do have some control over the situation (even if it's only a small bit)... And I guess with that control comes responsibility... And with that responsibility comes a choice...

DAY 25 of daily videos! :)

[lishi]

"What we can do now, in the moment" is such a great mentality. We can't change everything at once, but we can start with what frustrates us now. I love this!

[orirune]

There's a little creek that passes by my apartment in the city I live in, and sometimes it dries up completely. Last summer one day it was dry, so I decided to finally go in and pick up the trash that had been annoying me for so long. So I did, I went in and started picking up trash. And the cool part is, a guy who lived across the creek in another apartment saw me doing it and came out and joined in. 10/10 experience, I strongly recommend picking up trash to anyone. Super satisfying in every way.

[annaless]

"... but I'm also trying to keep the environment in which I live clean" Love that second thought, best way of reflecting without claiming and blaming. <3

[AnastasiyaOnline]

I am from Western Siberia, Russia. My grandparents lived in the village, literally in the middle of nowhere, near the small lake and huge forest. Every time when I went for a walk in the forest with my grandfather we brought some trash with us: plastic bags, packaging from candies, plastic bottles... It was between 1995-2002. I remember that for my granddad it was a huge problem to accept all the changes in the world where suddenly people stopped carrying about things. Because of the economical problems in Soviet Union people had to recycle a lot of things, especially glass bottles, and after in 1990s everything has changed and trash appeared everywhere.

[gojiack]

Been doing this for two years in my Chicago suburb durring the summer months, grabbing arm and all! Was inspired by “Plogging” in a Sweden where joggers picked up trash. To keep my walks enjoyable I use a black binder clasp to attach the bag to my waist/belt loop. Hope you keep doing it! And don’t feel guilty if you don’t do it every walk either - sometimes ahoy just need the you time!

[gracebanyan]

From someone who used to run a monthly community cleanup in my city… get the grabber, it’s much safer and better on your back.
Also, springing for the metal over the plastic is a good idea. So is a 5gal bucket you can dump instead of disposable plastic bags.
Also also: *thunderous applause* YOU ROCK!

[jitkamikulastik]

I always go with the phrase "leave the place better than you found it". This seems applicable to what you are doing now. Wish there were more people like you!

[melinabarry]

You are an example of how a minimal life can give you the time, space and freedom to do something and notice something so important. Not struggling to maintain your own space gives your mind room to think, your body time to walk and allows your character to grow. You are not bogged down on a Saturday trying to manage and clean all of your things (like me!). Instead you can give more of yourself to the things that matter to you. I'm inspired.

[lissamatthews]

This is taking action. This is caring and contributing. This is kindness. This is what making the world, the country, the state, the city, the neighborhood better looks like.

[holdthatghost]

When I was in university, I took the city bus to school. The wait was often long, even over an hour sometime. So I'd pick up trash in the area while I waited.

[SteveAbrahall]

When i remember I often take a pickup trash bag to the beach or the wild life park thats close buy - I recommend a good pair of old gloves (or at least one) also be careful with things like syringe needles etc they are something that need to be handled with the upmost care.... cats are great and don't create much in the way of trash - also very clean!

[faeriesmak]

Thank you for talking about this and doing this. I live in rural Wisconsin and also walk with a bag and pick up trash. In spring it takes several walks with bags until I get the Winter trash picked up and after that all Summer I just do some maintenance. I was always seeing things alongside the roads that people threw out of their cars or just stuff that blew there when it was windy. It bothered me..and then I realized that I was able bodied and could be the solution that ai was looking for.

[lourlopezsk]

I love this! Last holidays, the lake I was at was suffering from drought so the trash was more visible. No-one cleaned the area, so on the last day I grabbed a giant bag and put as much trash as possible there. It felt good! I always remember something I learnt at school when we went camping: "Leave the place better or just as you found it", meaning don't leave more trash 🙌🏼

[elainephipps]

I do litter picking and a grab stick and hoop - that you pull your bag through to keep it open - are game changers. My local (UK) council provide branded bags to put litter in and will even pick the full bags up if you leave them on the verge. Litter is one thing - throwing used nappies out of the car window/ dog poo bags in the roadside hedges/plastic bottles filled with wee is quite the other lol!

[queenaulia]

Totally agree. I have been doing the same, since I live with ones who like to litter here and there in our back garden. I think complaining is not solving. So I keep collecting trash and any broken stuffs and taking them to the nearest temporary dumpsite (also parts of my decluttering plan)

Waste/trash management is still unfinished in many parts of my country. Yes it is awful and irritating to me as a clean freak. I just try to do what I can do to make environment clean

Watching this video is really encouraging. Thanks!

[Hi_Im_Akward]

You can also email your representatives. It doesn't always make things happen, but I've done it before and have gotten direct email responses back from them. Pictures about the problem would help, along with suggesting solutions. Sometimes the representatives are not actually aware of certain problems and if you tell them, some are more than willing to put effort in and make a change.

[CarmenPortillo-vlog]

Very nice, when I drive to work, a lady is walking by the rock reek picking up small trash, and I can see her facial expression how happy makes her know the environment is clean. She is probably in her 70s or 80s.

[sinjaja]

This is what I do when I Go for walks. Great aproach!

[tarzanstunes]

Create your own beauty. Inspire others. Make change, one bit of trash at a time. ♥️

[annacg]

Great job, gloves and buying the stick for safety, city of LA has the resources to clean the city 24/7