New sport of plogging helps protect Changchun’s environment

A ‘plogging group’ -- composed of young people -- recently showed up in Changchun in Jilin province, to practice the novel new concept of environmental protection while running to keep fit.

Plogging is a new sport sweeping the globe, which is a combination of jogging and picking up refuse. It began as an organized activity in Sweden about three years ago and spread abroad in the wake of growing concern about plastic pollution.

Liu Siwei, initiator of the sport in Changchun, said that every group member carries a garbage bag and a trash clip while running. They collect garbage on the way and complete the rubbish sorting afterwards. That is the difference between them and regular running enthusiasts. Liu established the CCPlogging group on June 1 with 13 original members. The idea came up after the Changchun International Marathon. He promoted the information on social media and it gained wide attention. Within one month, the number of group members expanded to 180.

Now, every Saturday at 7 pm, more than 20 participants gather at the Freedom Road Subway Station for a 5 km run lasting one hour.

According to Liu, participants include students who have just finished their college entrance examinations and parents who take their children with them.

Its backers say plogging makes running more meaningful. Participants don’t rush to the finish line: they just want to pick up rubbish such as cigarette butts and paper scraps to protect the environment.

One group member said she has taken part in plogging three times with her kid. She said it builds up their bodies, helps them make friends and also teaches the child knowledge of garbage classification and green commuting.