“Plalking” for Earth Day
This Earth Day, I learned a new word that perfectly describes something simple yet impactfull: “PLALKing” -- the act of Picking up Litter while wALKing.
Out for a run along the beautiful Saskatchewan River, I noticed that, while the snow had finally melted, what it revealed wasn’t pretty—takeout containers, plastic cups, receipts, napkins, cardboard, cigarette butts, and more were scattered along the sidewalks, tangled in the leftover street gravel and dried leaves from last fall. I felt a strong urge to give back to the nature I enjoy so much and decided to join countless others in cleaning up our parks and sidewalks.
Cleaning Up, with an Experiment 🧪
Curious about the impact one person could make, I turned my cleanup into a small experiment: how long would it take to fill a 90L garbage bag? My sister and I grabbed some barbecue tongs, a garbage bag, and a notepad, then set off to find out: 62 minutes later, my bag was full, and I was shocked by what we collected.
The Inventory 🗑️
Here’s a breakdown of what we found:
- Cigarettes: 30+
- Takeout drink cups: 22 (plus 6 lids)
- Receipts: 21
- Candy wrappers: 15
- Napkins: 13
- Bottle caps: 9
- Food snack wrappers: 6
- Styrofoam pieces: 5
- Plastic wrap: 4
- Cardboard boxes: 4
- Plastic bags: 4
- Plastic straws: 4
- Chip bags: 3
- Flyers: 3
- Fabric: 2
- And a long list of random items, from a yogurt container to a microwave user guide, floss stick, plastic glove, and even a towel!
What I Learned 🧠
This little project opened my eyes in a few unexpected ways:
- So Much Could Be Composted
Many items, like napkins and paper towels, are compostable. Even food-soiled paper products can go in the green cart—unless they’ve been used with cleaning chemicals, in which case they belong in the black cart. - So Much Could Be Avoided
Receipts, for instance—do we really need them printed? Many stores offer email receipts now. And those takeout cups? Most aren’t recyclable in household bins. A reusable cup from home could save so much waste. - Bins Were Nearby
Most of what we picked up was within 50 meters of a garbage or recycling bin. It’s a simple habit shift to hold onto trash for just a few extra steps. - Plalking is Contagious
As we were cleaning, a neighbour thanked us and told us they had just picked up some litter themselves, inspired by seeing us out there.
Join the Plalking Movement! 🚶♀️🌎
Want to get involved? There are tons of ways to make a difference in your community:
Saskatoon -- Celebrate Earth Day with Meewasin’s 44th Annual Clean Up Campaign from April 22 to May 31. They’ll provide bags, gloves, and grabbers for free! Sign up here: Meewasin Valley Authority
Prince Albert -- Join Pitch-In Week from May 5 to May 10. Volunteers are needed! Find out how to help: Pitch-In Prince Albert
Regina -- A Regina resident, Mark Erickson has taken initiative to revitalize Regina’s North Central neighbourhood through volunteer cleanups Volunteer organizes cleanup in Regina’s North Central neighbourhood.
Weyburn -- The City of Weyburn is holding Wey-Clean Week from May 5-9, 2025, and encourages residents to participate in litter picking. The city will be highlighting different neighborhoods each day, aligning with garbage collection zones for efficiency. To get involved, individuals and groups can contact the City of Weyburn Engineering Department at (306) 848-3221 or email [email protected] to coordinate cleanup efforts and access supplies like gloves and bags.
Across Saskatchewan -- Take part in the Adopt-A-Highway program, where volunteers help keep our highways litter-free. Learn more: Adopt-A-Highway Saskatchewan
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Safety First!
If you're inspired to start Plalking, make sure to protect yourself:
*For those wanting to start Plalking, remember to ensure you have the proper safety equipment while picking up litter. Wear puncture-proof gloves or use a tool (like a garbage picker or tongs) to avoid touching items, and dress for the conditions.
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A final reflection on this experiment:
Less is More. Less waste. Less consumption. More action. More care. More community.
Let’s keep our parks, sidewalks, and riversides beautiful—one piece of litter at a time. 🌍💚