Mission to rid town of rubbish
Energy drink cans and cigarettes seem to be the staple diet of a lot of people who live in Zola McDonald’s Waikato town.
The Morrinsville resident couldn’t believe how many cigarette packets, smoke butts, V cans and bottles she picked up during a test run of an event she wants to see become a regular occurrence in the town.
Zola has decided to become a ‘‘plogger’’ and is on a mission to rid her town’s streets of rubbish.
Plogging combined jogging with picking up litter. Palking was walking while picking up litter.
‘‘There was so much crap everywhere, it seemed like I was only running a few metres and had to stop and pick more crap up,’’ she said.
‘‘I only took a couple of bags with me because I didn’t realise how bad it was but those were full in no time.’’
It started as an organised activity in Sweden in 2016 and had gained popularity throughout Europe and in other countries in 2018, following increased concern about plastic pollution.
As a workout, it provided variation in body movements by adding bending, squatting and stretching to the main action of running.
Zola has come up with a plan to start a group of ploggers and palkers in Morrinsville, with the first event taking place on Sunday, June 10.
Along with her good friend and Boot Camp organiser Kayla Maunder, Zola is running a plogging and palking event which starts at 2pm at David St School, Morrinsville.
As part of her work with Isogenix, the self-confessed running enthusiast said she has been looking for ways to give back to the community while doing what she loves.
Running and looking after the environment seemed like a good place to start, she said.
‘‘It’s been on my mind, thinking about what I could do. At first I thought about starting a casual running club but there’s already a few of those around,’’ she said.
‘‘This (event) will happen regardless of whether it’s rain, hail or shine and we will provide bags and a free sausage sizzle for everyone at the end of our day. Get your running or walking shoes on and come join us.’’