Pick up 10 pieces of litter on your next walk
Grab what you pass, and check the gutters where litter collects.
Why This Matters
Studies show people litter less when the street is clean, so clearing a stretch helps keep it that way. And litter in the gutter is exactly what washes into drains and out to the creek or bay.
Ten pieces, one walk
Next time you’re out on your usual route, bring a bag and pick up ten pieces of litter you walk past. Gutters and kerbs are where it gathers, so that’s the spot to check. Work from the footpath and keep an eye on traffic near the kerb.
Some litter isn’t worth picking up: skip anything sharp, and leave anything you’d rather not touch. Gloves are a good idea, or turn the bag inside out over your hand.
How to do this
- Bring a bag on your walk. Gloves if you like.
- Pick up litter you pass. Skip anything sharp.
- Check gutters and kerbs from the footpath.
- Ten pieces? If you have time, don’t stop there.
- Bin the bag, wash your hands. Done.
Sources for the clean-street effect: Cialdini, Reno & Kallgren (1990), Journal of Personality and Social Psychology; Keizer, Lindenberg & Steg (2008), Science.
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