If you’ve been reading the site for a while, you’ll know that there are few things in the world that I hate more than an internet challenge.
They embody everything that halts our growth as a species, including the idea that putting a charcoal packet on your head, or arranging gummy bears so that they look like they’re singing an Adele song, is somehow challenging.
It isn’t, really, and charcoal to the face only makes you look like a fool.
Now, finally, a challenge has gone viral that I can actually get behind – the #trashtag challenge.
Here’s CNN,
This weekend, the #trashtag challenge inspired people to go to locations covered in garbage, pick up the trash, and post before and after pictures on social media.
There have been over 27 000 posts tagged on Instagram as countless people clean up local parks, beaches and other sites.
The challenge became popular after a Reddit post that challenged individuals to “make the world a better place.” But the idea first started in 2015 when outdoors clothing company UCO launched the #TrashTag Project.
“Me and a buddy of mine were out on a road trip in California and a receipt blew out of a window,” recalls Steven Reinhold, a UCO people ambassador at the time. “We kind of felt bad about it because it was in a really pretty location, so we decided to pick up 100 pieces of trash.”
The #trashtag challenge raises awareness of litter pollution and encourages people to actually contribute something to the world.
It was reignited recently on Facebook by Byron Román:
There are also variations of the challenge. Forbes writes that a similar challenge can be found on the r/trees subreddit.
Here, people get together in their favourite place to smoke cannabis and clean the area of litter.
Marijuana, the gateway drug to cleaning up after yourselves and others.
Don’t be #trashy.
Good vibes.
