Creating Cleaner Streets in Sinsa-dong
A Morning Walk That Opened Our Eyes
On July 12, our Spiritus team gathered in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, for a street cleanup activity that turned out to be far more meaningful than we expected. What began as a short morning walk quickly became an eye-opening experience about how much hidden waste surrounds us in places we pass every day. Our mission was simple: walk a short route, collect as much trash as possible, and leave the neighborhood cleaner than we found it.
Equipped with gloves, clear trash bags, and a shared goal, we started our route through a mix of busy commercial streets and quiet residential alleys. These are places with heavy foot traffic and, unfortunately, frequent littering. At first glance, the area seemed relatively clean. But as soon as we slowed down and looked closer — under benches, between sidewalk cracks, beside storefronts — we began spotting trash everywhere.
By the end of our 1.11 km route, we had collected 138 individual pieces of waste, proving that even places that “look clean” often hide much more than we realize.
What We Found: A Closer Look at the Data
Our cleanup wasn’t just about filling bags. We carefully documented and categorized the types of trash we found to understand what was most common:
| Type of Waste | Percentage | Pieces |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | 30.4% | 42 |
| Cigarette butts | 27.5% | 38 |
| Plastic | 18.1% | 25 |
| Vinyl | 8.7% | 12 |
| Styrofoam | 7.2% | 10 |
| Cans | 5.1% | 7 |
| Glass bottles | 2.9% | 4 |
The data revealed a clear trend: cigarette butts and paper waste accounted for over half of all the trash we collected. Cigarette butts, in particular, were everywhere — small and easy to overlook, yet significantly harmful to the environment. They clustered near bus stops, alley corners, and shop entrances, while paper waste often took the form of discarded flyers or crumpled receipts scattered across the ground.
The Small Moments That Matter
One of the most memorable moments of the day happened when a team member noticed a plastic wrapper wedged tightly between two sidewalk tiles. It was barely visible and easy to ignore. But instead of passing it by, they knelt down, carefully pulled it out, and cleared the surrounding space.
It was a small action, but it captured the very essence of our mission: caring enough to notice and act, even when no one is watching. These small choices, repeated many times, are what lead to meaningful change.
Beyond One Cleanup
This activity was never just about one Saturday morning. Living in a city like Seoul, it’s easy to assume that “someone else will take care of the mess.” But this cleanup reminded us that public spaces belong to all of us — and so does the responsibility to protect them.
We plan to continue organizing regular cleanups, not only in Sinsa-dong but also in other districts across the city. We’re exploring collaborations with local businesses, schools, and community groups to build a broader network of people who take pride in their surroundings.
We’ll also keep documenting our efforts through photos, short videos, and posts like this one. Even if someone reading this doesn’t volunteer right away, maybe next time they see a cigarette butt or a flyer on the ground, they’ll stop and pick it up.
Because ultimately, this is about more than just clean streets. It’s about building a culture of respect, responsibility, and shared care — a culture where people act not because they have to, but because they want to.
Discover more from Spiritus Blog
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
