Thanks for joining the national effort to keep our parks plastic-free!
Plastic-Free Parks TrashBlitz is an annual project to track plastic pollution trends in U.S. National Parks and on federal lands. The goal is to understand which materials, items, and brands of waste are most common to work toward solutions that protect our environment. This community science initiative relies completely on volunteer data, so we can’t do it without YOU!
Start by watching the training video, and then read on for instructions on how to take part, helpful resources, and best practices to ensure your data is accurate.
TrashBlitz in 3 Easy Steps:
2. Explore a national park or federal land and pick up trash as you see it.
3. Input your findings (item, brand, material) into the app as you go.
Let’s Talk About Data 
It may seem tedious, but understanding specifics when it comes to item, brand, and material type is essential in developing focused solutions.
While some materials are easy to identify (like glass and aluminum), plastic can be complicated. First, take a look at the item to see if you can identify a chasing arrows symbol with a number. If not, reference 5Gyres guide.
Spend some time before your cleanup to familiarize yourself with the types of plastic and common items!
For any questions or feedback related to TrashBlitz, contact nick@5gyres.org. Thank you for joining the national effort to keep our parks plastic-free!