From a weekly cleanup to a global movement: ten years of Trash Hero

by Lydia on 13/02/2024 No comments

It all began with a simple idea. In December 2013, a group of friends gathered on a beach in Thailand, with the goal of cleaning up the trash that was washing up on the shore from all corners of the globe. It was the start of something extraordinary: a journey of ten remarkable years that transformed a local initiative into a global force for good.

  • From the start, cleanups are open to everyone and involve the whole community in the fun and appreciation. 
  • We count the participants and the collected trash so we can monitor and celebrate our impact. 
  • The weekly event means more and more people join and the word starts to spread.
  • The momentum leads to a 4-month “Trash Camp” on Koh Rawi, an uninhabited island in the National Park, where volunteers stay in shifts to remove mountains of plastic debris, much of it from the 2004 tsunami. 
  • Trash Hero volunteers clean up on their travels to Indonesia, sparking local interest. 
  • It’s soon clear that cleanups alone are not enough. We start encouraging people to reduce their waste and change their habits.
  • We start the water bottle refill programme to prevent plastic waste at the source.
  • The Trash Hero model gains popularity and the first local groups – chapters – open. First, elsewhere in Thailand, then in Indonesia and Malaysia.
  • Over 80,000 flip-flops collected from the Trash Camp inspire the Tlejourn project, which gives them a new life. 
  • We receive the Thailand Green Excellence award for the second year in a row, with recognition from the Thai Princess. 
  • The movement grows, with new chapters opening in the the Czech Republic, Myanmar, New York and Shanghai.
  • We pass 1,000 cleanups worldwide.
  • Trash Hero World is registered in Switzerland to help coordinate the rapidly expanding global movement.
  • Volunteers in Switzerland work with offices and festivals to reduce their plastic footprint. 
  • The first Family Meeting is hosted in Indonesia to support volunteers. It is now a regular event in all major countries of operation.  
  • Trash Hero joins the new Break Free From Plastic movement as a founding member.
  • Trash Hero Myanmar is invited to speak at TEDx Yangon. 
  • Chapters open in Malawi and Singapore, bringing the total to 54 globally.  
  • Trash Hero Thailand is offered a significant grant from a multinational polluter, but we vote to turn it down. Although we need funds, we won’t take part in greenwashing. The discussion sparked goes on to define our ethical fundraising policy.
  • We reach more than 100 chapters, welcoming groups in Laos, Cambodia, Romania, Serbia, Germany and Zimbabwe.
  • After years of being 100% volunteer-run, we are able to hire our first employee to provide vital programme and volunteer support. 
  • We start a dedicated kids programme to create a new generation of Trash Heroes.
  • We collaborate with Schnarwiler to launch a new refill project in Switzerland, providing an alternative to single-use toiletries.
  • New chapters start in Australia, Serbia, Georgia, Poland and The Netherlands. 
  • Brand audits become part of our cleanups, contributing data to Break Free From Plastic. Their reports are used to put pressure on corporate polluters and in court cases against them. 
  • By the end of the year we pass 1,500,000 kg of trash collected.
  • Over 100,000 reusable bottles have by now been distributed through our refill network, avoiding the use of 36.9 million plastic bottles and 1,942 tonnes of CO2 emissions. 
  • The network grows to Kuwait, Vietnam and Japan. 
  • In March, the pandemic hits, stopping all group activities. Some chapters innovate with solo and remote cleanups. 
  • We move Family Meetings online and create workshops offering “Zero Waste Communities” training.
  • This kick starts the Trash Hero Communities programme that helps to create long-term change at the local level.
  • As restrictions ease, some chapters resume group cleanups. 
  • Our volunteers stay strong: since 2013, they’ve contributed more than 1 million hours of their time to our mission. 
  • Our kids’ book is translated into its eighth language: Arabic, joining English, Thai, Indonesian, Burmese, Malay, Czech and German. 
  • We help spread “The Story of Plastic” to millions of new viewers, with dubbed versions in Thai, Indonesian, Malaysian and Vietnamese.
  • Though many chapters closed during the pandemic, new volunteers continue to join. 
  • More than 120,000 kids have now taken part in our cleanups. 
  • In February, a Global Plastics Treaty is announced. Shortly after, Trash Hero is accredited by the United Nations Environment Programme, meaning we can join the negotiations as an official observer. This is a proud moment for our volunteers.
  • The journey continues…

Thank you to all our volunteers and everyone who has joined and supported us over the last ten years! It’s been an incredible ride. The impact numbers for 2013 – 2023 speak for themselves:

Watch the full timeline in our 10th anniversary video:

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LydiaFrom a weekly cleanup to a global movement: ten years of Trash Hero

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