Hoosier Habitat

Introduction by Marianne Peters: Last year I asked my friend Bob Garrison to write a story about his plogging habit. Since we are all out picking up litter this week with the Crossroads Community Cleanup, I thought it would be fun to revisit this column! Thanks, Bob!

Before you get to know me, I’ll note first impressions can be deceiving.

If you see me jogging and picking up litter in a hunter orange sweatshirt along Pioneer Road—you’d think I was doing community service time. Or if you look in the back of my car and sometimes see the rear footwell filled with crushed beer cans and miniature liquor bottles—you’d think I have serious drinking issues.

Actually, my issue is a love of plogging— which refers to picking up litter while jogging.

I wasn’t aware of this until recently, but plogging turns out to be a worldwide phenomenon. It made headlines in Europe—particularly in Sweden—starting back in 2016. In part it’s a reference to “plocka upp,” which means “pick up” in Swedish. And what started there with individuals soon became dedicated group plogging runs.

Observers say plogging expanded throughout Europe and migrated to the U.S. around two years ago, back in 2018. A quick online search shows plogging covered here by media as diverse as The Washington Post, Runner’s World, NBC and even the PBS News Hour.

I’ve been a member of the media for quite a long time—but I had never heard of plogging until recently. More than anything, all I knew was I was just bothered by all the litter I used to run past along Plymouth’s sidewalks, streets and parks

Quick back story. As a work-at-home editor-writer, I spend my entire day at a laptop. And as a runner and extrovert, I desperately need to be around people. So my routine is to break up the day and get out of the office at lunch for a gym class. And then I figured I could get even more exercise—and think about writing—by running two or three miles just to get to the gym. Here’s my route: living near the corner of North Michigan and Jefferson, I start jogging up north Michigan, turning right on Plymouth Goshen Trail and then turning right again to run through Centennial Park—all en route to Ace Fitness’ former location off East Jefferson.

I used to run past empty cans and bottles of every shapes, size and type (beer, liquor, water, juice, etc.) At first it bothered me that nobody picked up these items. Why wasn’t somebody doing it? And then I thought— why not me?

That was maybe 12 to 15 years ago. I started picking up nearly all recycling items that I could quickly crush and carry in two hands en route to the gym class. And what was perfect was the former Ace Fitness location had a recycling bin for me to use. And it also wasn’t long before the competitor in me found a way to make it a game for my gym friends.

I start off: “Ok. So what did I find today? More plastic, metal, glass—or is it perhaps a tie between them?”

Classmates shout their answers and someone wins. Hey, it’s a great way to start a workout, right? You’re already a winner. ;)

I’ll note that I don’t use plastic bags and that my personal best has been to carry as many as 21 items in my hands—along with so many miniature liquor bottles in a sweatshirt pocket. Ready for more trivia? Perhaps it’s no surprise that during Covid-related, shelter-at-home time, I mainly picked up liquor, beer and wine bottles and cans.

Ok people. I realize we all need escape from the stress that’s all around—but maybe consider a garbage can or somehow save your empties for the at-home recycling bin.

And if you really want to release some stress, please consider jogging with me. It’s a great workout, and it’s hard to have stress when you can’t breathe!