No time to waste

Turning trash into treasure: A personal mission to tidy up our community

Heidi Fog has a simple, yet powerful way to engage with the environment and her local community. By combining exercise with a mission to reduce litter, anyone can make a positive impact in their own neighbourhood. Whether you do it alone or with friends, it’s an easy way to stay active while contributing to a cleaner world.

For many of us, finding time for exercise amid a busy work week can be a challenge. But what if you could combine your workout with a way to give back to the community and the environment? That’s exactly what Heidi does, and she’s sharing her story in the hope of inspiring others to join her in a simple, yet impactful, routine: picking up litter while walking her dog.

“I’ve been doing this for a while, but I realised other people do it too. So I thought it’d be worth sharing,” Heidi explains. Working in front of a computer screen up to 80 hours a week, she understands the importance of staying active, but also the value of contributing to a cleaner environment. Her solution? A bucket, a pair of tongs, and her loyal dog by her side. 

Social activity
Each day, just before lunch, Heidi heads out for a walk, picking up small pieces of litter as she goes. Sometimes it’s a lot, sometimes it’s just a few plastic bottles, but the goal is always the same: to make a small difference in her local environment. 

“I bring a plastic bag for the overflow, and sometimes just some gloves in my back pocket,” she adds, describing her optimistic outlook towards making her community cleaner.

This routine quickly turned into a social activity when she went for a walk with a friend one day. “I brought my bucket, and she asked, ‘What’s that for?’ I told her I’m picking up garbage, and she said, ‘I want to do that too!’” 

Now, they meet every Tuesday for 45 minutes to walk and clean up litter together. On one occasion, a young couple even approached them, saying, “We thought we were the only ones that did this.”

Signs of progress
Heidi sees the positive impact first-hand. On one walk, she covered 4 kilometres of beach and only found a single piece of litter. “I think that’s a great outcome,” she says with a smile. Some places in her regular routine have become so clean that she doesn’t need to return – another sign of progress.

For Heidi, it’s more than just cleaning up trash; it’s a way to connect with people, get exercise, and take a mental break. “I hang out with people that get stuff done, and it’s motivating to hear what they achieve,” she explains. “Picking up garbage is just one way to get things done, and I get to catch up with friends too.”

Most of the time, Heidi does this alone, which gives her valuable “brain space” to think, reflect, and relax. She’s part of a community of doers – people involved in hands-on activities like olive pressing or serving on committees. It’s the kind of engagement that Heidi believes builds skills and knowledge about life, and something she hopes to pass on to her children. “My kids don’t care what I talk about over coffee, but when I do something, that’s what matters,” she says.

Better bins
One key lesson Heidi has learned is that preventing litter starts with better design. “We need bins in the right places where waste is generated, otherwise it becomes litter instead of going into a landfill bin,” she points out. Her practical, hands-on approach reveals the gaps in our systems and shows how small changes can have a big impact.

As for what people think when they see her out picking up bottles and trash? “Maybe they think I don’t have any money,” she laughs. “But to me, that bottle holds energy, and that energy should go to the best place for recovery and reuse, instead of digging for virgin materials.”

For Heidi, picking up litter isn’t about seeking approval or recognition—it’s about personal satisfaction, contributing to a cleaner world, and finding a bit of relaxation during her hectic workweek. “I do it for me,” she says, “I get fresh air, a little relaxation, and then I’m ready for the next 10 hours at my desk.”

Heidi’s message is clear: You don’t need to make a grand statement to make a difference. Just bring a bucket, take a walk, and clean up your community one step at a time. Who knows? You might inspire others to join you along the way.

Go for a walk with Heidi – 7-minute radio segment in The Sustainable Hour on 11 September 2024


If you would like to join like-minded litter-pickers in the Geelong and Surf Coast areas, you can join the Tidy Up Geelong Facebook community here: www.facebook.com/TidyUpGeelong

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