LITTER RESEARCH

Not only you tidy up your outdoor surroundings during a cleanup, but you can also record the waste you picked up by using the Litterati-app on your phone. You are going on a Trash Hunt! More than 4 million trash items worldwide have already been registered and tracked this way!

The information this tracking provides makes it possible to tackle the litter’s problem at its source so that better packaging can be developed, or deposits can be introduced on everyday waste items such as cans and bottles. That is precisely why the Plastic Soup Foundation coordinates World Cleanup Day in the Netherlands.

WHY IS LITTER RESEARCH IMPORTANT?

Worldwide, at least 80% of the plastic soup in the oceans originates from land, entering the sea through rivers. Which kind of packaging is most common in the environment? Who are the producers of these items?

Much is already known about this. To be able to work on solutions that are more focused on the Netherlands, we need your help! By better mapping out litter, we can identify and confront the sources of the problem more efficiently.

HOW IT WORKS

Follow these steps to download, install, and use the Litterati app and contribute to the world’s largest citizen-science research project!

You have two options: you can participate in the challenge “World Cleanup Day Nederland” or you can create your own challenge. Below we explain step by step how to do that:

Option 1
Join the Trash Hunters challenge

If you’re new to the Litterati app:

Download the Litterati app from the
App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android)
Click “Start” and insert the challenge code “TRASHHUNT” (instead of “WCDNL2020”, that challenge is over).
Complete your registration by linking your profile to your email address or facebook.
Now you’re ready to go!

Do you already have an account in Litterati?

Log in to your account
Go to “Challenges” and click “Join a challenge with a code”
Enter the code “TRASHHUNT” and sign up!

If you’re new to the Litterati app

If you already have an account in the Litterati app

Option 2
Start your own challenge!

Download the Litterati app from the App Store (Apple) or Google Play (Android) and create an account OR Login to your existing account
Go to “Challenges”
Choose “create your own challenge”
Choose “Connect to a recommended challenge”
Search “Trash Hunters”, and join us. (instead of World Cleanup Day 2020, that challenge is over)
Now you are connected to Trash Hunters with your challenge!

LET’S GET STARTED

Take a picture with the Litterati app of each litter item you find
After your cleanup action, upload all your photos as soon as possible.
Important! Tag all litter items (the type of packaging, the material and the brand) and click on “Save tags”.

Watch the video about how to capture the found litter in the app here.

Golden tips

1. Work in pairs! Person 1 captures the garbage item with Litterati and person 2 picks it up and puts it in the garbage bag.

2. Check the “Upload only via WiFi” checkbox in the Litterati app settings.

3. Bring a power bank! This way you’ll never be left with an empty battery while cleaning up.

RESULTS 2020

World Cleanup Day 2020 was a great success! More than 120,000 litter items were registered with the Litterati app! Below you will find an overview of what we found. More than 20 million people worldwide participated in 180 countries. Want to know more about the global results? Click here!