In this article, we conclude our National Cleanup Month series with how you can multiply your efforts by including and encouraging others to join your efforts to keep our planet clean.
While personal efforts are a simple way to start cleaning up litter and plastic pollution, larger-scale efforts can expand your impact not just on our planet, but the communities. There may be a lot of litter that plagues the world around us and ends up as marine debris, but even more things you and your community can do about it. Below are some ways that you can help both as a larger group of individuals and as a community.
WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP
- Beach Cleanup
As the summer ends, the beaches in your community may need some TLC from all of the people it’s hosted over the season. Organizing a beach cleanup is a great way to get the community involved in beautifying something that everyone uses.
- Trash Scavenger Hunts
Picking up litter doesn’t have to be boring! Creating a game that positively affects the environment is a great way to bring everyone together, especially children!
- Community Trash Walks
Getting some fresh air is never a bad idea, so why not invite some members of your local community to join you on a walk, and make it a group effort to clean the environment as well as keep everyone healthy.
- Spread the Knowledge
Sometimes, arming the public with knowledge is one of the best ways to help the planet. Informing others about the litter that plagues their home and the ways they as individuals as well as a community can help to clean it up is just as important as the action of picking up litter.
- Join Existing Efforts
There are many groups already organize and host events that you, your family, and your friends can join. Look for local groups that host park cleanups, beach cleanups, and the like. If you participate in one of these local groups, consider joining forces with a national movement, such as the National Cleanup organization.
Just because this series is over and National Cleanup Month is ending does not mean your cleanup efforts need to end. Every day there are thousands of pounds of litter dumped into the world, but continued efforts from caring people and communities can help decrease this amount. Change starts with one dedicated person and can continue to grow to inspire others to give back to the planet they call home.
