BUFFALO, N.Y. — Have you ever heard of plogging?

Plogging is jogging while picking up trash. It’s a Swedish term that’s being adopted across the U.S.

What You Need To Know

  • Plogging is a swedish word that means to jog to and pick up litter 

  • The most common form of trash ploggers say they see are cigarette butts 

  • Urban Running Series does a plog once a quarter 

In the rain and even snow, runners with Urban Running Series lace up their shoes to plog. 

“It was a little bit dicey, but we got through,” said Dennis Brinkworth, founder of Urban Running Group.

Brinkworth is the founder of the Urban Running Series.

“We ran up to Buffalo General Hospital area in the Marina and came back with 80 bags of garbage,” Brinkworth recalled.

Once a quarter, they don’t worry about their time, but focus on how much they pick up.

“There are a lot of cans and candy,” Juliet Mead said. “I am going to be way more aware, especially when it comes to cigarette butts.”

Mead won’t have a problem finding them.

Albert Lewis has plogged before. He’s found his share of surprises along the way.

“Diapers,” Lewis laughed. “I don't like picking up diapers.”

And on a soggy day, he was thankful for hand protection. 

“We have on gloves,” Lewis laughed. “So there are some things that you pick up that you don't want to pick up.”

But they do it for the greater good.

“You shake your head every so often when you're walking or you're parking, you're driving by and just wondering how something got there," said Madeline Reale, co-owner of RockPile Athletics.

Their efforts have been contagious for Reale and those who break a sweat at her gym. 

“We’ve handed out trash bags to the members of our gym,” Reale said. “We ask them to clean up, and kind of, you know, participate in the same sort of spirit.”

That’s exactly what Brinkworth is going for.

“The reward is seeing the impact that you've made by clearing the garbage,” Brinkworth said while jogging.

It doesn’t take much.

“Really all you need is gloves, those are highly recommended,” Brinkworth said. “Garbage bags, recyclable, if you can, and a bucket.”

IKEA has plogging essentials for sale online, including reusable bags.