Doing a Trash Watch
Now we’ve gathered as much data as possible about the single-use pollution itself, and we’re feeling good about our positive environmental action, it’s important we don’t forget to monitor the impact it’s having on the wider trail ecosystem.
Single-use pollution takes hundreds of thousands of years to break down. It remains where it’s dropped or blown into for generations.
Even worse than this is the negative impact it can have on flora, fauna and soil health. Our Trash Watch is our longer-term Citizen Science contribution, but one we think you’ll find just as fun.
How does this work?
Trash Watch is quite literally about observing the impacts of single-use pollution over time. You choose a location, leave single-use pollution in place where you found it, and come back over time to monitor its impact.
We call this ‘in situ monitoring’. By checking in regularly to see how single use pollution is breaking down into the environment, we can understand the impacts it will have on flora, fauna and our health. To choose a place suitable for our in situ monitoring, pick a random place along a trail.
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Retrieve some items of single-use pollution, then leave them in your chosen spot. You might want to create a sign that explains what’s going on so other people don’t remove them. Each month, go back and check on the items. Record any signs of interaction. This might include:
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Chew marks
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Methanogensis (rotting smell)
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Animal remains
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Animal droppings or faeces
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The presence of animals (worms)
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Lack of growth of flora
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Overgrowth of flora
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Different species of flora growing (moss)
You can use a quadrat to help with your observations. You want to be as unbiased as possible with your quadrat placement. To help with this, ask a pal to pick a number between 1 and 10, and a random direction. Then walk the number of steps suggested and wherever you end up, that’s where you place your quadrat. Then take a picture and observe!
Trash Watch is a longer commitment but is so rewarding. This is a core piece of the puzzle we’re yet to understand, but it’s vital we know more about the impact single-use pollution is having on plants and animals, so we can better protect them in the future.
