The Hero we need - Trash Hero World
Are you wanting to meet new people, help the community and reduce waste?
Trash Hero World is a global volunteer-led movement founded in 2013 that drives change within communities, encouraging and supporting community members to clean up and reduce waste. The Trash Hero World Adelaide chapter engages the community to clean their environment through a volunteer-led weekly clean-up campaign, picking up discarded rubbish from various parks, beaches and other sites across Adelaide. SAcommunity volunteer Leah Pritchard has been involved in the group for a while and wanted to highlight an organisation she felt would speak to others, her article and an interview with current Volunteer Manager, Rebecca Phyland are below.
Trash Hero World - World-wide beginnings
Trash Hero World was founded in Switzerland by a group of scuba divers with a strong connection to South East Asia and ties to Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. Their aim was to set up a free framework that any community could adopt to implement change concerning the environmental waste issues in their local area.
Seven years later, the Trash Hero World network extends to 17 countries worldwide, with a chapter in each city, supporting the volunteer movement to link communities and people all over the world through education and pollution control in order to create environmental change.
Trash Hero World Adelaide began in January 2019 and is the only network in Australia. Led by environmental science academics, the chapter was founded by university staff and students committed to reducing waste and educating others in the community. The environmental movement providing a practical means to ‘walk the talk’ and realise their teaching philosophy with an opportunity for people to make a difference locally alongside the flexibility students need.
Becoming part of Trash Hero World
Rebecca Phyland, Volunteer Manager for Trash Hero World Adelaide explains, "People are drawn to Trash Hero World for a myriad of reasons, with the environmental connection being a strong motivator, particularly the environmental education, conservation and action aspects of the volunteer work."
The academic added “When we ask people why they volunteer, the motivators range from a love of the environment, the social aspect of being outdoors together with like-minded people, an opportunity to be involved in activities they believe in, and in many cases, it’s because they want to contribute to their community but can’t undertake traditional locked-in volunteer positions.”
“Trash Hero World’s flexibility means that volunteers can attend every week or as a one-off exercise. An ideal model that works around people’s interest in helping the environment and their capacity for volunteering.” Rebecca Phyland stated, citing an example of a couple of recent FIFO workers who had joined the group to attend sessions around their work schedules.
The Chapter meets weekly on Wednesday’s at 9:30am at various locations around Adelaide, from the beach to the River Torrens. The group is open to all ages with individuals, families, prams and dogs welcome.
Speaking for myself [Leah Pritchard], I’ve been involved in Trash Hero World for a year now, attending work clean ups in Adelaide whenever I am available between study and work. I love that it is flexible, I don’t have to commit to every event even though I wish I could! Each time I attend, there are new people, new locations and I feel very rewarded. The regular morning time slot with upcoming Clean Up dates and locations are posted on their Facebook site in advance. I can highly recommend the rewarding experience of joining in, meeting some friendly faces and being involved in a worthwhile and significant activity.
Trash Hero World’s model collaborates readily with other community service groups and has teamed with organisations such as the Adelaide University Rotoract Club, Rotary Club of Walkerville as well as with Coast Care. In addition to drawing individual interest from people including FIFO workers whose hours often prohibit traditional volunteering opportunities, local and international students who can attend between their study commitments in a safe, social activity that allows them to contribute, and carers looking for a family friendly or pram friendly outdoor volunteer activity that everyone can be involved in.
If you or your organisation or council are interested in working together with Trash Hero World Adelaide, perhaps to help after a festival or community event or to contribute to their cause, contact them today or join a Trash Hero World clean up by visiting their Facebook page for the weekly location. Look out for the group wearing yellow Trash Hero T-Shirts who will lead the clean-up effort. All you need to bring is a reusable bag, gloves, enclosed shoes, a smile and to enjoy the sunshine whilst helping your community.
