Our half-year numbers are in, and they make us so proud of every single volunteer who has contributed to the impact of the global Trash Hero movement – whether they joined one cleanup or 100!
In just six months in 2022, 26,666 volunteers (of which 8,098 were under 16) completed 1615 cleanups, collecting 53,102 kg of trash.
That’s an average of 9 cleanups and 265 kg of trash per day!
We have been collecting data since December 2013, and as of 30 June 2022:
We have completed 16,525 cleanups
We have 159 active chapters in 17 countries
438,503 volunteers have joined us, including 111,608 kids
We have responsibly collected and disposed of 2,207,236 kg of trash
As part of the Trash Hero Bottle program, 104,688 reusable bottles have been distributed, avoiding 38,211,120 single-use plastic bottles and reducing 1989 tonnes of CO2 emissions
As part of the Trash Hero Bag program, 29,445 reusable Trash Hero bags have been distributed, saving 10,747,425 single-use plastic bags
Since January 2022, we have welcomed 11 new chapters to Trash Hero; however, this year, we have seen a decrease in the total number of active chapters.
We must recognise the pandemic’s impact on volunteers, not just with Trash Hero but across all charitable organisations. Although Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted in most countries, the impact of the lockdowns and the economic fallout still affect many communities. Many of our volunteers have had to change locations or professions to ensure they can support themselves and their families. This, unfortunately, means they can no longer commit to regular activity – but the door is always open if they feel able to return.
As Trash Hero World, we will continue to support our volunteers in every way possible. We organise regular catch-ups with our chapter leaders and country coordinators and provide mentorship and guidance with every step of the way.
And thanks to this momentum, we continue to see incredible numbers in terms of trash collected and volunteers who have taken part.
How do we get this data?
During every cleanup, our chapter leaders will record data – the number of volunteers in attendance, the weight of the trash collected and how many kids have taken part – which is then published on their social media accounts and uploaded to our database. Anyone can see the live statistics on our website. This data is checked every month to ensure it is consistent and correct.
Why do we collect data?
Collecting data helps us assess and celebrate our impact: seeing how much waste we have removed from shorelines, mangroves, cities, and rivers helps to keep us motivated and inspired. But also, this data is essential to share with researchers and our partners. Data equally helps to reinforce our message of reducing plastic at the source, showing people how much waste we produce, how many people want it stopped and how effective refill and reuse solutions can be.
We also share a more detailed analysis of the trash collected with researchers and campaigners so that they can push for change at the global level.
All of our data is publicly available as part of our commitment to being transparent.
All that we have achieved so far has been down to the dedication and commitment of our incredible volunteers. We want to say a huge thank you to them! Organising cleanups and collecting data takes time and energy, and our volunteers’ passion drives our movement.
Check out their work in the video below, and share it with someone you think would enjoy it:
Has this inspired you to join us? Find out more about starting a chapter here or email us.
The claim states that their ‘Conscious Collection’ marketing is “misleading” and “falsified”. It has even been claimed that parts of the collection are more damaging to the environment than the regular products. Find out more here
Thailand orders imported waste to be shipped back to Australia
130 ton container declared as “paper” discovered to contain 20-30% general municipal waste – which under current law is not allowed to be shipped into Thailand. Read the full story here
Two-thirds of pledges to reduce plastic fail or are dropped
An investigation into companies’ “plastic promises” shows how Danone and others fail to deliver. Find out more about what these companies have done and how it compares to their promises here
New guide shows restaurants how to go plastic-free
A free, step-by-step handbook to help food & drink establishments be part of the solution on plastic waste. Find it here and don’t forget to share it with any restaurant owners you know!
Trash Hero Koh Phangan featured in eco-tourism travel guide
Sustainable travel writers join a beach cleanup on the Thai island. Read their story here
Clean sustainable environment a human right – Historic UN ruling
Now governments have an obligation to fulfil this, how will they do it and how will it impact the plastics industry?
A clean, healthy and sustainable environment is vital for our survival, the ruling should help catalyze a change towards more sustainable production and consumption.
Changed your habits? Now it’s time to change the world!
Lists of advice on how to reduce your plastic use are all over the internet. If you’re reading this, perhaps you already own a bamboo toothbrush, carry a reusable bottle and bag and shop at refill stores. Maybe you separate your waste like a pro and made other zero waste swaps that have reduced the amount of plastic you use in your day-to-day life. In which case, congratulations! It’s not always easy, but being the change you want to see and leading by example are the best way to start your journey to reduce plastic pollution.
Everything you do in this respect helps to normalise the concepts of reuse and refill and hopefully inspires others to do the same.
But although you are doing your part, it might feel like nothing is changing in the wider world: in the news, you see there are still millions of tonnes of plastic being produced each year. Other than avoiding plastic in our own lives, what can we do to stop this?
As individuals it may feel like there is not much we can do. But at Trash Hero, we have found there are there are many easy actions that can help get companies, communities and governments on board to support the reduction of single-use plastic.
We’re happy to share them with you here. If you are ready to go a step further on your zero waste journey, read on for our five top tips to reduce plastic in the world around us.
1. Learn to spot greenwashing
Greenwashing is when a business promotes its products or practices as “eco-friendly” or “sustainable” when actually they are not. Many cases of greenwashing are easy to spot, but some are much harder.
When a big company uses green colours, or images or language suggesting “nature” to market a product in throwaway packaging, this is a sure sign of greenwashing. But it can also be more subtle. Many fashion brands put out “sustainable” clothing lines and boast about their eco-credentials, when these products make up only a tiny percentage of their output.
Other resources include our handy toolkit for spotting greenwashing and a new website dedicated to the topic.
Why do we need to spot greenwashing at all? Because the practices give people the impression that something is being done about issues like plastic pollution and climate change. They allow companies to get away with doing, in reality, very little to solve environmental problems. Greenwashing is so prevalent and considered so serious that many companies are now being sued for making false claims about their sustainability.
If we can spot greenwashing and expose it to those around us, it helps to keep the pressure on companies to make real changes to the way they operate. You could even share your observations on social media!
2. Change the story
Since the 1970s companies have been pushing the blame for the pollution they cause onto consumers and governments. With single-use plastic, they tell a story about “litter” and “irresponsible people” and say the problem can be solved with education, better recycling and waste management.
The reality is that many multinational companies have designed pollution into their packaging and delivery systems. They continue to produce single-use plastic in the face of evidence that it is toxic, not easily recycled, damages our environment and causes climate change. Why? Because it is cheaper for them to do so: the old reuse and refill systems (that single-use plastics replaced) required having employees and infrastructure. Now, we are expected to throw packaging away and let someone else deal with it.
It is important that people understand they are not to blame for the current crisis. Instead, plastic pollution needs to be stopped at its source. Large companies can change the way they package their materials, ‘turning off the tap’ of plastic, not relying on public services to mop up their mess.
A great way to help others understand about the wider changes needed to solve the problem of plastic, is to share this short animation, The Story of Plastic. If you would like to know more, search for the full-length documentary version, which explores the issue in depth.
3. Do a brand audit
Another effective way of holding multinational companies accountable is to collect data about them. There is an easy way for individuals to get involved in this, in the Brand Audit Report, a global citizen science project organised by Break Free From Plastic.
A brand audit is ideally carried out on litter picked up at a cleanup, but it can also be done on items in your household trash. It involves recording the brand and type of each plastic item found. For example, how many plastic Coke bottles or how many plastic Nestle sachets there are. Break Free From Plastic have been organising brand audits since 2018 and from the data they collect they produce a report that identifies the top polluters. These yearly reports have played a huge part in shifting the narrative from plastic waste being the responsibility of citizens to that of the producers.
Contributing to this data is a fantastic way to increase the pressure on the top polluters to change the way they package their products.
Get in touch with your local Trash Hero chapter to see when they are next doing a brand audit or conduct your own! This year, you can send in your contribution up to the end of September.
4. Support a zero waste business
Maybe your favourite cafe gives a discount for bringing a reusable cup, or you have a local deli that lets you bring your own container for cheese or cooked meats. Businesses such as these are encouraging people to use less plastic and supporting a sustainable business model that undoubtedly has a positive impact on the environment.
When you find such a place, it’s a great idea to support them. Some ways to show support are to tell your friends about it, share their page on your social media or tell the staff that you support and love what they are doing. If you don’t have such a shop in your area, why not try starting a conversation about refills by asking if you can use your own cup or container and explaining why.
The more we support businesses that are implementing real solutions to the plastics crisis, the more that will open! And, consequently, more pressure will be put upon larger companies to do the same.
5. Become a Trash Hero
No cost, no sign up – just show up! It is that easy to become a Trash Hero.
Our Trash Hero chapters do weekly cleanups which have an immediate and positive impact on the environment. After each cleanup the volunteers come together to discuss the waste they have just removed and think about where it came from.
These activities allow us to engage with a wide range of people from the local community, which is a great way to get everyone from schools, businesses, families and local government thinking about waste – and hopefully, start to implement real changes to reduce the plastic they use. Find a Trash Hero near you or get in touch to find out how to set up your own chapter.
Whatever you chose to do beyond changing your own lifestyle, the most important thing is that you are doing something. It can feel a little overwhelming at times, but remember small changes done by many people lead to big impacts! To keep yourself inspired make sure to follow us online and tag us in any tips you have to reduce plastic across the globe!
Discover the province in the Philippines where zero waste is becoming a reality. Read the full story here
Can bioplastics or plastic fuel help solve the plastic crisis?
A new website provides clear, science-based information on popular plastic “solutions”. The website has been created by Break Free From Plastic ‘This brand new website offers information and analysis of a range of ‘plastic solutions’, aiming to undermine the industry greenwashing and misinformation. Each solution analysis is fully referenced and has been reviewed by an expert panel of scientists.’
10 common single-use plastic items banned in Cyprus
Retailers must stop selling plastic straws, cups, cutlery and foam boxes from October this year. Find out more about it here
Teenagers can now gain a qualification in climate change
The new Northern Irish syllabus will cover single-use plastic and fast fashion, but how should they be taught? Will the responsibility for change be placed on the right people? Find out more about the qualification here
Greenwash.com: new website exposes false environmental claims
From plastics and packaging to fast fashion, this new website helps you stay informed about industry greenwashing.
An island of plastic wipes changes course of UK river
Wet wipes form an island the size of two tennis courts in the Thames, changing the course of the river. Find out more about this here
Microplastics found in meat, dairy and animal blood
The Dutch study found plastic in 75% of supermarket meat and milk and in the blood of farmed pigs & cows.
Festivals in Netherlands to stop using single-use cups
After successful trials, reusable cups will soon be the new norm for Dutch festival-goers. Find out more about how this system will work and people’s reactions to it here
Trash Hero Luzern’s brand audit makes the news
Tele 1 reporters joined the volunteers at their 25th cleanup in the Swiss city. The team conducted a cleanup and a brand audit. A brand audit records information about the companies producing the plastic found at cleanups and contributes to global research on corporate polluters. The full video, currently only available in Swiss German, can be watched here
A policy 4 years in the making: India bans single-use plastics
A step in the right direction, but are communities and corporations ready for the change? This interesting analysis looks at how the ban is working in practice and its long term prospects.
They said single-use sachets were “evil” and vowed to stop producing them. Secretly, they lobbied against laws that would ban them. Find out why in Reuter’s new report.
EU agrees to common charger
No more unnecessary e-waste (and tangled cables)! The EU will enforce a “single charger” rule for all electronics starting from 2024
Circular economy predicted to create 250,000 jobs in London by 2030
New research shows that by working towards a circular economy, London could see an extra 250,000 jobs in less than ten years! Find out how in ReLondon’s report
The findings add to a growing body of research that says zero waste models have huge economic and social benefits.
Global plastic waste set to triple by 2060
If nothing changes, three times the amount of plastic will be entering our lives by 2060, says the OECD, with less than a fifth of it being recycled. Their new report claims the “business-as-usual” approach is unsustainable.
Packaging waste – how citizens pay for businesses’ irresponsibility
Dragana Katić, the founder of Trash Hero Beograd, explains why citizens are not to blame for the current plastic crisis and what can be done to improve the situation.Read the full article in Balkan Green Energy News
After two and a half years of online meetings, this year we were finally able to have our Trash Hero Family Meetings in person!
Family Meetings are our regular volunteer training and team-building events that celebrate our chapters’ achievements and facilitate the exchange of knowledge, experience and skills that will benefit both their community and the wider Trash Hero mission.
Pre-pandemic they were held in person in our major countries of operation: Czech Republic, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Switzerland and Thailand.
In 2020 and 2021 we moved these meetings online, which allowed us to reach volunteers in other countries that had never previously attended a family meeting. They saw fantastic levels of attendance with 276 people in 18 different countries attending a series of online meetings in 2020. In 2021, 174 people from 15 different countries joined the Trash Hero global meeting, and Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Switzerland hosted their own Family Meetings. These meetings helped to keep our movement vibrant during a challenging period, but nothing could match the energy of in person discussion and interaction.
Once restrictions eased, many chapters held their own Chapter Family Meetings which allowed them to build their local teams and address the particular issues they face in their communities.
Then, finally in May, we were able to plan and host a full series of face-to-face meetings with our volunteers in Svatý Jan pod Skalou, Czech Republic (13 – 15th), Batu Buruk, Malaysia (13-15th), Bali, Indonesia (20 – 22nd) and Chumpon, Thailand (27 – 29th).
After reviewing feedback from past Family Meetings, and from our own experience of our 2020-21 zero waste training, this year in Asia we aimed to increase the levels of interaction within the meeting – facilitating more discussions and increasing knowledge sharing.
“I enjoyed the opportunity to plan together with team members, in order to properly divide tasks and have people help each other – [it] makes the job a lot more fun and easier.”
Nan – Trash Hero Ao Nang, Thailand
The meetings started with introductions: after 2 and a half years there were some new faces joining us! It was fantastic to finally meet people in person who we had previously only met on a screen.
Then it was time to get to work! We explored our values as a movement, cleanup organisation, strategic planning, social media best practices, brand audits and the big picture of waste. The volunteers got to know Trash Hero World and the work we do globally and there were also sessions where they could share their experiences of delivering programmes on the ground. This provides essential input that helps to shape the way in which we work and our activities moving forward.
One of the most popular workshops was strategic planning, guiding the leaders through ways to increase the influence of their chapters and how to get more people involved. This started with a presentation, then a session to put their knowledge into practice and create a long-term plan. We encouraged the chapter leaders to assess their current situation, set goals and create a step-by-step plan for achieving their aims.
As well as being an opportunity to share knowledge, the Family Meetings help our volunteers form connections with each other – creating a fantastic network of support and ideas. The friendships formed at the events last far beyond the three days spent together.
Each Family Meeting was organised as a zero waste event. People who attended brought their own reusable water bottles, or there were glasses for use, and refill stations were readily available. All food and drink was served with reusable tableware and snacks were wrapped in banana leaves. Across the 4 events we had 183 participants from 80 chapters. This means, based on a conservative estimate of each participant having 2 water refills a day, at least 1,098 single-use plastic bottles were prevented from being used.
In Czech Republic, the meeting was held in an idyllic location just outside of Prague. The team listened to lectures from guest speakers, discussed ideas and visited the Bohemian Karst Protected Landscape Area. From their guide, Pavel Skala, who joined the Family Meeting as a representative of the Třesina association, they learned about local butterflies. Other guest speakers were Martin Trávníček from the Pestré Polabí association and Arthur F Sniegon from the non-profit organisation Save Elephant. It was also great to see a large number of the volunteers at the Family Meeting were Trash Hero Kids!
The feedback we received and the knowledge we gained during the events help us create a stronger global Trash Hero Family and will be used to shape our programmes as we continue our fight against plastic waste.
Malaysia: 27 Participants, 13 Chapters
Czech Republic: 35 Participants, 8 Chapters
Indonesia: 88 Participants, 45 Chapters
Thailand: 33 Participants, 15 Chapters
“I increased my knowledge about how polluted and how threatened planet Earth is. The most important thing for me from this meeting is how honest and transparent financial management is in THI and THW. I also felt the family atmosphere that is so close between the participants.”
Plastic production is increasing, how can we – as concerned citizens- change this? We want to inspire you to make small changes and demand bigger ones so that globally we have a meaningful impact.
This World Refill Day (June 16th) we’re taking a closer look at refill and reuse and discovering why they are the key to reducing plastic pollution. We’ll share what we’ve been doing to support refill and show you how you can also make an impact with your actions. We’ll show you how to encourage the support of businesses who are providing refills, motivate you to examine the way products are sold and ultimately inspire you to integrate more refillables into your household and routine.
So why do we need to refill?
Currently, 380 million tonnes of plastics are produced each year 1, over half of which are single-use plastics 2 . Around 9% of this plastic gets recycled, with less than 2% being effectively recycled3. The rest is littered, landfilled, burned or shipped around the world for someone else to deal with. The sheer volume of waste being generated means even improved recycling is not a practical solution – even if plastic manufacturers would like us to think it is.
The only solution that we know works is to reduce the amount of plastic being produced, especially single-use plastic. Refill and reuse of containers and packaging is one of the easiest and most efficient ways to reduce the amount of plastic needed in the world. Making refill the norm can start at an individual level and then must be supported by the local business community, government infrastructure and eventually by big consumer goods companies.
The benefits of refill are not just limited to reducing plastic waste in the environment. Reducing plastic also has a positive climate impact by reducing CO2 emissions. Plastic production and use currently accounts for around 4% of global carbon emissions, more than the entire airline industry. Integrating more refills into your routine will also have a positive impact on your wallet. Refilling as much as you need rather than buying pre-packaged amounts often works out cheaper, as does refilling drinking water. Many businesses also offer discounts for people who bring their own containers for takeaway food and drink.
So what can I do as an individual?
Make refilling a habit
Think about your daily routine – where do you eat lunch? What items do you regularly buy in single-use plastic? Then try and find ways in which you can swap the single-use for reuse or refill.
The simplest way is to switch to a reusable water bottle. If you already own one, you can encourage others to do the same!
There are many places that offer free water refills, especially in countries where you can drink from the tap. Even in those where you can’t, local refill networks such as the one created by Trash Hero (see below) often exist to help people stay hydrated while avoiding single-use plastic.
To see the impact you have when using a refillable water bottle you can use our free Bottle Impact Calculator. Share your results online to inspire others – and don’t forget to tag us @trashheroworld!
It’s not just water bottles
Let’s remember, It’s not just water bottles that can be refilled and reused! You can bring your own reusable cups and containers at many takeaway places and markets and more and more stores are offering refills of day-to-day essentials such as toiletries, cleaning products and groceries.
Even without a local refill store you can still take action: try a reusable container for your lunch (home made or takeaway) and a thermos for your coffee. You don’t necessarily need to buy anything new to start this, there are things in our houses that will do the job! Old takeaway containers are great to reuse for a packed lunch and old jam jars are perfect for home-made instant noodles – there are endless options and ideas out there! Have a look through your cupboards and see what can be repurposed for your refill journey.
Reusable plates – Trash Hero Indonesia Family MeetingRefillable coffee, creamer and sugar – Trash Hero Indonesia Family MeetingReusable (and refillable!) cups – Trash Hero Indonesia Family Meeting
Start a conversation
Talking about refill and how easy it is helps to make the idea accessible and normal for people around you. Make it your aim to research as many places as possible in your local community that allow you to bring your own container for purchases, or ask your friends and neighbours if they have any recommendations for water refills or other reuse tips. Share your findings with your network so that others are encouraged to try.
If there isn’t currently any refill store in your area, maybe there is a friendly local business that you can approach. Try bringing your own cup or container and start a discussion or brainstorm ways in which they could trial refills in their stores. A conversation is the first step to changing behaviour and consumer feedback is extremely powerful.
Support businesses that care
As we’ve mentioned, your feedback as a consumer holds power. This isn’t just about refusing single-use plastic in bigger stores, but supporting those businesses that are offering refills. Be sure to tell them you love what they do, share their sites on social media and encourage others to go there too.
A great resource for refill and reuse programmes is the Living Landscape of Reduse Solutions database – it provides fantastic information about the different ways refill works to eliminate waste, as well as an up-to-date list of refill and reuse providers. You can use it for research or submit your favourite store to their database.
Demand change
It is important to remember that refill is not a new idea. In fact, not so long ago refill was the norm in most countries. For example, products such as milk and soft drinks were delivered in refillable glass bottles. It’s easy to revive these systems and even improve them with new technology and materials.
Whenever you hear a company talking about more or better recycling, remind them and those around you that the real solution is to reduce and reuse / refill. Only when they realise people understand the link between their products and pollution and climate change will they change their packaging and delivery systems.
It may feel overwhelming at times, but together we have the power to demand change and show commitment to that change in our daily habits and purchases.
So what are Trash Hero doing about refills?
The Trash Hero bottle refill programme offers a safe and affordable alternative to single-use plastic bottles. We provide stainless steel water bottles at cost price to local businesses, who then sell them on and provide free drinking water refills to any bottle owner. We have a network of more than 700 refill points, predominantly in Southeast Asia, but also in Czech Republic. A study looked at the impact of refilling the Trash Hero bottle alongside the equivalent number of single-use plastic water bottles and concluded: ‘As a direct comparison between packaging systems, the Trash Hero reusable bottle reduces your [CO2 emissions] by around 95% vs. single-use plastic.’ 4 To date, we have sold 102,470 bottles and estimate that 37 million plastic bottles have been avoided as a result of the programme.5
Another Trash Hero refill project saw us partner with Swiss cosmetics company, Schnarwiler AG, to launch a range of refillable beauty products with 100% natural ingredients. Essential items such as hand and body soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion are packaged in recycled glass bottles and refilled in local stores from bulk containers that are also washed and reused. Since the project started in 2018, the refill network has grown to 84 outlets and 11 hotels, including a popular national chain store, demonstrating that such projects can be implemented on a large scale. It is estimated that 52,882 plastic bottles (200ml) have been avoided thanks to refill.
We’d love to hear from you about your refill journey. Any great refill or reuse ideas that you’ve found helpful? Any stores in your area that you want people to know about? Share in the comments below or tag us on social media!
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