Let’s go plogging!

You’ve probably jogged before, but have you plogged? Plogging is a way to add bending and stretching to your exercise routine — and help improve water quality — by picking up litter while you go for a run. It’s a trend that started in Sweden in 2016 and is rapidly spreading to everywhere people want to improve their own health and the health of the environment. The name, plogging, is a combination of the Swedish plocka upp (picking up) and jogging.

Join us on Saturday, Aug. 24, for the inaugural Kansas City Plog-a-thon, a free, family-friendly event presented by MARC’s Water Quality Public Education Committee. Meet up at 8:45 a.m. at Run 816, 304 Westport Road, Kansas City, Missouri. Be sure to wear comfortable shoes and clothing. Supplies — including gloves, trash bags and litter pickup tools —will be provided. The plogging route will be approximately 3 miles long.

Litter on streets and in parking lots washes into storm sewers that lead to rivers and streams. Litter generally takes years to breakdown and sometimes leeches toxic chemicals into the water supply. Picking up litter and disposing of it properly is a simple way you can help keep our water clean. To learn more about water quality in Greater Kansas City, visit CleanWaterKCMetro.org.