We often see litter as a simple problem: trash on the ground. We see it as someone else’s fault. We blame the government for not providing enough bins. We blame the garbage collectors for not being fast enough. Or we blame the ‘lazy’ people in our community. But is it right to always point fingers? What if we looked inside ourselves?
The litter on our beaches and streets isn’t a single, massive force. It’s a collection of small human choices.
I’ve spent years in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, working to make our shared spaces cleaner. What I’ve learned is that every piece of litter tells a story. Think about a plastic bottle tossed on the side of the road, or left in a parking bay at our local mall. The simple story is that someone was careless. But what’s the deeper story? Maybe that person was in a rush. Maybe they couldn’t find a bin. Maybe they just don’t feel a connection to this place. By looking beyond the object and into the cause, we start to feel empathy. We realise this isn’t just a big, faceless issue; it’s a collection of small choices made by real people.
I’ve learned that a lack of care comes from a lack of value. We often invest our time and money into something and then immediately forget its value once we’re done with it. A new plastic bag, a coffee cup, a water bottle. We own it, we use it, and then we no longer need it. So we toss it away.
This leads to a larger problem: neglect. We neglect our shared spaces. We don’t treat them with the same respect as the property we own or the respect they deserve.
Many of us would never get our hands dirty to clean up trash. It’s too smelly. It’s not our job. But what about the brave men and women who do get their hands dirty? They work hard to ensure our shared spaces are clean. We rely on them, but we don’t always do our part to make their job easier.
My work in the community is more than just picking up trash. It’s about starting a movement that uses the power of a story to change our perspective. It’s about creating a space where people can connect with their community and become part of a new, positive story – one where they are the heroes who clean up their own backyard.
For me, it’s about making those stories visible. I have seen that sharing the “why” behind the mess is more powerful than just telling people what to do. The results speak for themselves. In the past six years, my community-led clean-ups have collected more than 50 tons of waste from our beaches and streets. That is a significant change, driven by a simple human choice.
Today, I urge each and every one of you to think before you act. The choice is yours. Make the right one. Let’s change our story, one piece at a time, because every piece matters.
Josh O’Neill, a Certified Green Project Manager, GPM-b, with a Diploma in Conservation Psychology and an environmental advocate who leverages his extensive experience in community engagement and environmental awareness to highlight Phuket’s environmental issues and sustainable initiatives. Phone/WhatsApp 099-998-9274 or support@thelitterclub.org.