One Bag Per Day

by Elle Johnson: Community climate activist and member of washington youth for climate justice

One year ago, I lay awake, trying to fall asleep. I had just joined my first climate organization (WA Youth for Climate Justice) and my mind was spinning with ideas on how I could reach my full potential as an environmental activist. As I thought of initiatives I could start that would have an impact, an idea came to me: I could start picking up trash and encourage others to do the same. The next morning, my sister, her friend, and I headed out with a bag and three gloves. Within ten minutes, we had filled up an entire bag with litter, and I knew I couldn’t just stop there. Since then, I’ve picked up a bag of trash every day and encouraged others to join me. So far, around fifty different people have helped me pick up over four-hundred bags of trash. These people include friends, teachers, city council-members, and even people I had never met before who wanted to join. People often ask me if I think I’m making a difference. I think the answer is very clear. Does picking up just one bag of trash make a meaningful positive impact of the state of our environment? Not really. But all of the meaningful conversations I’ve had with people surrounding the environment, all of the people that picking up introduced to activism and conservation, and the reputation I’ve built in my community has made a difference. One Bag Per Day is less about the physical picking up of the trash, and more about the awareness it builds and the connections it makes. And the best part about this action is that anyone can do it! Get outside and pick up some trash!