Conserve | Trash Hero
I learned about Trash Hero in 2015 when I was in Koh Lanta, speaking with a dive instructor friend of mine. They were the first to introduce water refill stations, source high-quality stainless steel bottles and sell them for cost price, and work on a community level. All it takes is one person in a community to start a Trash Hero chapter.
It was started in Koh Lipe, and it has spread like wildfire since.
Last year, I spoke with the Indonesia coordinators about how to start a chapter for Mt Rinjani because it would have been the easiest and cheapest way to implement something with great branding and an established plan that worked. I ended up attending one of their “Family Events”. Twice a year, they gather all their chapters together to get to know one another and to share progress updates, and have fun. Indonesia has its own because the country is so massive; they have so many chapters.
I met the two founders and they really care and they work really hard to be as inclusive as possible. And as transparent as possible.
There are 4 parts of Trash Hero (per chapter)
Weekly Cleanups
Refill Stations
Education for little kids, they have a drawn a little storybook
Sales of reusable bottles and t-shirts to support the cause
The reason why I think Trash Hero is better than the others is that it is community based. They truly empower the locals in each chapter to take control. As long as someone documents three weeks in a row of cleanups, they are allowed to start a FB group. Once the FB group is started, it is natural that more people keep joining. And then it grows from there.
Because the community comes together to pick up trash, they see how their trash doesn’t disappear. It fundamentally changes how each of them reduces and stops using single-use plastics.
Its first-hand education and dedication
Then when they get enough klout or, for instance, someone has influence at a school, they go in and read the book to the kids and also organize events with the kids as well. The kids participate until they get free t-shirts and drink bottles. The kids are great because they will be the ones they bring home this mentality to their parents and can really make a difference in the community.
Trash Hero is one of the most sustainable causes as it is bottom-up leadership and driven by passion. As we expand, we continue to spread this mentality over all over the region. It is an established model that works across languages, countries, and ages.
TIP:Always check their website to see if there is an active local chapter. Join them for their weekly cleanups. It is a simple and easy way to give back.
Unfortunately, the Trash Hero model does not quite fit with Chickenfeet Travels, but with our long-time friends and guides and another organization, we will be implementing another solution that will ensure a Rubbish Free Rinjani.
