Plogging Through Sinsa-dong
Last weekend we joined a plogging activity in Sinsa-dong, Seoul for about two hours as part of the Spiritus First Good Influence Challenge. Plogging is a mix of jogging and picking up litter, and it gave us more than just a chance to clean up the streets. It helped us understand what kinds of waste are most common in this part of the city and what they tell us about everyday habits.
Mapping the Waste
To make our efforts more impactful, we recorded all the trash we collected on eco1365, a public environmental data platform. Each item was tagged by type and location, creating a detailed waste map on the Gangnam district. This allows us and others to visualize where waste tends to accumulate and what kinds of items are most problematic in each area. It’s a way to turn data into action and help others make informed decisions about cleanup priorities.
What We Found
We collected a total of 63 pieces of trash during our activity. Here’s what we picked up
- Cigarette butts – 32 pieces (≈50.8%)
- Plastic waste – 17 pieces (≈27%)
- Paper waste – 6 pieces
- Metal/Cans – 4 pieces
- Vinyl waste – 3 pieces
- Others – 1 piece
More than half of the trash we found was cigarette butts. This didn’t surprise us too much, since Sinsa-dong is full of cafes, restaurants, and nightlife. On the surface the streets may look clean, but a closer look shows that smaller waste items like cigarette butts are still a major issue.
Why It Matters
Cigarette butts may look harmless because of their size but they’re actually very harmful to the environment. They don’t break down naturally and can leak chemicals like nicotine and heavy metals into soil and water. Because they’re so small they often get ignored by both the public and cleaning crews. But in busy areas like Sinsa-dong they build up quickly and quietly.
What We Can Do
We believe there are two clear steps that can help
First, make smoking zones more visible and accessible
Many smokers toss their cigarette butts simply because they don’t know where to go. Installing more clearly marked smoking areas with ashtrays could reduce illegal littering. These zones should be placed where people usually smoke like near cafes and restaurants and should be easy to spot with bright signs.
Second, raise awareness through education
Most people don’t litter because they want to cause harm. They just don’t think about it. Posters, public campaigns, and social media could help people realize how harmful cigarette butts are. If we work together with schools, local businesses, and influencers we can make this message stronger and more visible.
What We Learned
This activity reminded us that small actions can lead to bigger change. Cleaning the streets was important, but so was learning about the environmental habits of the community. The trash we found helped us see a hidden problem and think about real solutions.
We plan to continue plogging in other areas and compare what we find. Every neighborhood tells a different story and we hope that these efforts can one day support better public policies and stronger environmental habits.
We believe that when we come together and act with purpose, even something as small as picking up litter can lead to real change.
