Agenda:

• 10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: Welcome and Introduction
• 10:15 AM – 12:15 AM: Cleaning Public Spaces Activity
• 12:15 – 12:30 AM: Reflection and Discussion

Materials:

• Gloves for each participant
• Trash bags (for recyclable and non-recyclable waste)
• Access to recycling and non-recyclable bins

Welcome and Introduction

Today, we embark on a meaningful journey together with a significant mission: to clean a public space (park, beach, etc.) as a team. Why are we doing this? Because this space belongs to all of us, and keeping it clean and beautiful is a shared responsibility.

As we go through this activity, think about why it’s essential to keep public spaces clean. 

Here are a few reasons:

1. Helping the Environment: By cleaning a public space, we support the plants and animals living there. Trash can harm trees, flowers, and animals, but by collecting it, we allow these organisms to grow and thrive in a clean habitat. Have you ever seen a bird tangled in debris or plants wilting from chemicals? Our cleanup helps prevent this harm.
2. Keeping Spaces Beautiful: We all enjoy spending time in places that are pleasant and clean. Picking up litter makes these spaces more inviting and enjoyable for everyone.
3. Learning Not to Litter: Seeing how much trash we collect reminds us to be careful about where we throw our waste. We should always use bins, especially recycling bins when available, for items like plastic, paper, and glass. By recycling, we give materials a chance to be reused rather than sent to landfills, helping to conserve resources like water, oil, and minerals.
4. Working Together: Cleaning an entire space is challenging for a few people, but when we work together, we can make a significant difference! This space belongs to all of us, so it’s essential we all do our part to care for it. By collaborating, we can create positive change and show that we care about our environment and community.

Let’s put on our gloves and get started!

Reflection and Discussion

After the cleanup, we can gather to discuss our experience:

• How did cleaning up make you feel about the space and your responsibility to the environment?
• What did you notice about the type of trash collected? 
• Why is it essential to recycle, and what can we do daily to help?

Did you know that:

• Each year, around 8 million tons of plastic end up in our oceans: This plastic takes hundreds of years to break down and harms fish, turtles, and other sea animals.
• Straws, Bottles, and Bags are non-environment friendly: Single-use plastics like straws, bottles, and bags are some of the most common items that end up in the ocean. When we use alternatives like reusable bottles or bags, we’re helping reduce this waste.
• Recycling One Plastic Bottle Can Save Enough Energy to Power a Light Bulb for Three Hours: Recycling saves energy because making new items from old materials uses less power than creating items from scratch.
• Trees Help Fight Climate Change: Trees absorb carbon dioxide, one of the gases causing climate change, and release clean oxygen for us to breathe. That’s why planting trees is so helpful.
• One Large Tree Can Provide a Day’s Oxygen for Four People: Trees are amazing! They help us breathe, cool our environment, and provide homes for countless animals.
• Food Waste is a Big Problem: About one-third of all food produced in the world is wasted. When food waste ends up in landfills, it produces a gas called methane, which is even stronger than carbon dioxide in trapping heat.

Today’s activity taught us that through small, collective actions, we can positively impact our environment. By keeping our public spaces clean, we not only help the planet but also inspire others to do the same. Let’s remember the importance of sustainability and work together to live in a way that respects our planet and each other.