A trash pirate is someone who hunts trash. You don’t need a cool eye patch or a ship to do it (although those would be pretty cool). You just need to pay attention! The name Trash Pirates came from our then 7-year-old son. On our daily walks, we would find pieces of trash on the grass, sidewalks, and at parks. Instead of walking by it, we decided to do something about it. We started bringing a reusable canvas bag with us to collect the trash and bring it home to sort and dispose of it. On one particular walk our son pointed out that we Hunt For Trash because we are always looking for something to pick up. And because of that he said we were The Trash Pirates. The name stuck and our mission became clear. We had to tell everyone what we were doing to inspire others to make a difference in their community. It doesn’t take a large organized clean up to get it done (though those are really great opportunities if your community has one). It just takes a caring person like you to make an effort. Once you start walking around your community and local parks, you’ll begin to appreciate all the nature around you. You’ll become more connected to it and want to help more. Plus, you’ll get some good exercise while you do it. So arrrrrrrrrre you ready to join our Trash Pirates movement? We want to see all you Trash Pirates making your communities a cleaner and safer place for all people and animals. So, grab a fellow pirate, grab a bag, and hunt for trash! Learn how to get started, here. Want to set up a community or school-based cleanup? We have some great tips here.
Facts about litter -Almost 50 billion pieces of litter are along U.S. roadways and waterways. -9 billion tons of litter finds its way to the ocean every single year. -Both land and sea animals suffer from ingesting or getting caught in litter. -When plastics are exposed to sunlight on land, or sunlight and saltwater in the ocean, they breakup into microplastics making it harder to pick-up. -Each year, an estimated 4,500 billion cigarette butts are thrown to the ground globally. -Household waste, industrial waste, and construction waste are the most common sources of litter. -In North Carolina, in the year 2015, the Department of Transportation spent move than $15 million to remove roadside litter. That’s just one state in one year! -Areas with a lot of litter often experience more vandalism and crimes.
Facts about connecting to nature -Being in nature can reduce anger, fear, and stress. -According to a study of 2,000 people done in the UK in 2015 more time in nature meant there was more community unity and much lower crime rates. -Taking a walk outside or looking out at nature actually helps with kids’ attention span. -More time outside can increase your physical fitness which is great for body and mind! -Nature can help you be more creative. Make sure to tag us on social media so we can see all your great work!!!
Sources: https://kab.org/goals/end-littering/ https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/7-crazy-facts-that-will-scare-you-into-never-littering https://oceana.org/blog/what-happens-all-our-plastic-trash-once-it-enters-ocean https://worldschildrensprize.org/litterfacts https://www.conserve-energy-future.com/various-littering-facts.php https://www.ncdps.gov/dps-services/crime-prevention/litter-free-nc/litter-facts https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/how-does-nature-impact-our-wellbeing#:~:text=Being%20in%20nature%2C%20or%20even,the%20production%20of%20stress%20hormones. https://e360.yale.edu/features/ecopsychology-how-immersion-in-nature-benefits-your-health https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/six_ways_nature_helps_children_learn