Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
It’s easy to turn on your computer (or mobile device) and scroll through endless good stories, photos of cute kitties and funny videos, but we shouldn’t forget that there are plenty of problems in the world that have to be addressed. Pollution, especially plastic, is one of the biggest issues of our age and despite so many people fighting the good fight, you still see people tossing their candy wrappers or coke bottles out in the open. And while this fight against littering might seem like a failing cause, one Instagram account shows that it’s all in our hands (literally).
“Peterpicksuptrash” is an Instagram page where Peter posts photos of trash he picks up. Every photo includes a short message, detailing how easy it was for him to pick up the trash. “Walked a very short distance to eat lunch. Picked up this trash on the sidewalk and then I threw it away. This was very easy to do,” one of the photo descriptions read.
Bored Panda has reached out to Peter and he responded by saying that he "caught" this habit of picking up trash around 2 years ago. "I would walk to lunch most days, and I always walked past trash, literally within inches of my feet," he recalled, "I would pass other people walking past the same trash, and they would walk right past it [...,] so one day I just decided to pick it up, one handful at a time".
More info: Instagram
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
"This stuff was all directly in front of me as I walked to lunch. It took very little effort to pick it up and throw it away. So I did. This was very easy to do."
Letitia Hedding 5 years ago
well it is doing more then just looking at the rubbish, every bit counts
RELATED:
#2
"This trash was on the ground. So, I picked up this trash and threw it away. This was very easy to do."
Fotofonica Media 5 years ago
The bad thing is not that. the worst thing here is that in every picture theres a starbucks item!!! They are creating more garbage than anyone else damn it!!!
His page also has a short “bio” where Peter expressed his message. It reads: “I am going to demonstrate how easy it is to pick up trash, instead of walking past it. You can do it too. Maybe we save the world.”
#3
"Weird stuff on the sidewalk today: a pretty new snorkel, a seemingly nice reusable fork, a whole (moldy) meal; and of course various plastic wrappers/containers. Still, I picked them up and threw them away. This was very easy to do."
Crochet lady 5 years ago
He must live near a Starbucks. And it's not Starbucks fault that people can't be bothered to recycle.
#4
Letitia Hedding 5 years ago
this makes me really happy to see people like this, I am following this dude now
"It’s one of the easiest, brainless, physically-demanding-less, things a single person can do to help the environment," he explained. "And if a thousand people start doing it, a hundred thousand, a million, a hundred million... we could make a really big change really quickly by doing the simplest of tasks," Peter expressed hope about spreading this zero waste "habit".
#5
"Picking this trash up and throwing it away took less than 15 seconds out of my day. This was very easy to do."
#6
"This stuff was on the sidewalk, right in front of me. Instead of walking past it, I picked it up and threw it away. This was very easy to do."
When asked if his family and friends are aware of this eco-friendly habit, Peter confirmed that they are and they think that it's both, a simple as well as awesome idea. "It’s quite easy to do and just about everyone can contribute on their own time, in their own way," he reiterates how simple it is and how easily people can contribute, as it doesn't require "scheduling or planning; physical exertion or mental anguish; a degree, a job, whatever", it just needs someone to pick up trash when they see it. "If we save one animal from swallowing something it shouldn’t (that we humans made/discarded) and prevent it’s unnecessary death, or help one part of the ecosystem stay healthy, then it is entirely worth it," Peter concludes.
#7
"Instead of walking past this trash on the ground, I picked it up and threw it away. This was very easy to do."
#8
"Walked a very short distance to eat lunch. Picked up this trash on the sidewalk and then I threw it away. This was very easy to do."
Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
I could see that pink ring being hazardous if an animal got it around their neck.
According to Our World In Data article published in 2018, by 2015 “the world had produced 7.8 billion tonnes of plastic”, which is more than one tonne of plastic for every person currently alive. The big problem with plastics, compared to other materials, is that it takes a long time (some plastic items can take up to 1000 years) to degrade. And according to data, by 2015 around 55% of global plastic waste was discarded, while 25% was incinerated, and only 20% sent to recycling facilities.
#9
"Lot of stuff on the sidewalk. Instead of walking past it, I picked it up and threw it away. This was very easy to do."
Letitia Hedding 5 years ago
if we all could do this the world would be so much cleaner and better
#10
"Instead of walking past this stuff, and picked it up and threw it away. This was very easy to do."
DotC 5 years ago
After all this, how about people JUST NOT LITTER! Yes, a small percentage gets blown out of unemptied public trash cans but in my hood, it is entirely people who got it into their heads that someone else will pick it up. My fantasy to have trash magically end up in in litterers beds.
#11
"As I was leaving work I picked up a piece of trash and heard your voice in my head saying “that was very easy to do”"
#12
".3 mile walk to lunch spot. .3 mile walk back. Picked up this trash and threw it away. This was very easy to do."
#13
"Not much today (which is a good thing). This was very easy to do."
Pretty Pangolin 5 years ago
LOL I am waiting for the day he posts "This was really difficult."
#14
"Walked a very short distance. Bent down. Picked up. Threw away. This was very easy to do."
#15
"Found this stuff on the ground during my lunch walk. So I picked it up and threw it away."
#20
CharliAnn Olney 5 years ago
Water bottle ... Labeled "EARTH" ... Crushed and left as litter! OH! The IRONY!!!
#30
Donna Baker 5 years ago
This is great what you do. But what I don't understand, is why everyone think it ok to just throw your trash wherever your standing sitting , Etc. what would be so hard about you bring it in you take it out. I was at Hampton Beach NH 4th of July. when fireworks where over they just left the beach scattered with trash for someone else to pick up. And this is what responsible people do, that are the first to scream about protecting the environment.
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Please put pressure on your favourite fast food places to swap from plastic to paper! Better still, try to sell them on the idea to give a small discount to everyone bringing their own container. It is better to reduce the amount of plastic at the source!
Wil Vanderheijden 5 years ago
It's strange that people are downvoting comments that are on topic and supporting Monika's idea. How the fvck can you be offended by these comments?
Load More Replies...
Monika Soffronow 5 years ago
Please put pressure on your favourite fast food places to swap from plastic to paper! Better still, try to sell them on the idea to give a small discount to everyone bringing their own container. It is better to reduce the amount of plastic at the source!
Wil Vanderheijden 5 years ago
It's strange that people are downvoting comments that are on topic and supporting Monika's idea. How the fvck can you be offended by these comments?
Load More Replies...
Related on Bored Panda
