Data Collection

Staff member collecting litter data on a paper datasheet attached to a clipboard.

Data-Driven Litter Cleanups

Discover how data collection is revolutionizing our approach to litter cleanup and environmental conservation. Learn about our top problem items, data collection methods, and innovative applications of litter data. Understand the data collected in each of our programs and download open-source data to use in your own projects or advocacy work.

Why Data Collection Matters

  • Understand Issues

    Identify which types of litter are most common in ecosystems

  • Illustrate Gravity

    Showcase the extent of plastic pollution in the environment

  • Empower Action

    Provide people with knowledge to make informed decisions

Our Data Collection Process

Training

1

Staff and volunteers are trained in data collection methods

Field Collection

2

Using data sheets, litter is identified and tallied by category

Information is transferred to an online submission form

3

Data Entry

Data is cleaned and added to the master database

4

Database Management

Data-Driven Impact

Comprehensive Collection

Data has been collected at every event since 2014, spanning over 10 years

Detailed Information

At each cleanup, we record the date, location, volunteers, litter categories, and total pieces

Impressive Results

To date, volunteers have collected over 7 million pieces of litter

Top Items Collected

  • Pile of cigarette butts.

    Cigarette Butts

    The number one littered item around the globe and also one of the most hazardous. Butts release toxins and microplastics and cause fires.

  • Colourful plastic pieces of debris arranged on a beach.

    Plastic Pieces

    Bits and pieces of single-use plastic, toys, hygiene items, and things that are no longer identifiable due to the level of degradation.

  • Hands holding hundreds of multicoloured nurdles.

    Nurdles

    Plastic pellets used in manufacturing plastic products. Every year trillions of them are lost in the environment through spills during transport.

  • Pieces of styrofoam that were gathered at a litter cleanup.

    Foam

    Take out containers, coolers, packaging, insulation, and docks. Foam is all around us and breaks up into tiny pieces when released into the environment.

Applications of Litter Data

Environmental Education

We can use litter data to raise awareness about commonly littered items and their environmental impact and integrate data into our website and social media to teach people about waste management and environmental responsibility.

Advocacy and Policy

We can identify the most littered items and advocate for policies like bans on single-use plastics or incentives for waste reduction. We can also evaluate the effectiveness of waste management laws or initiatives by analyzing changes in litter data over time.

Community Engagement

We can use data to organize community cleanups where they are needed most. We can also analyze trends to understand why people litter and design interventions to reduce such behaviour within our communities.

Economic Impact Analysis

We can study how litter affects local ecosystems, such as waterways and wildlife and quantify the financial impact of litter on local governments, businesses, and tourism to advocate for budget allocation.

Resource Optimization

We can use heatmaps of litter hotspots to determine optimal locations for garbage bins as well as prioritize areas with the highest litter density for cleanup efforts to maximize resource use.

Climate Change and Sustainability

We can estimate the emissions associated with litter decomposition or incineration and identify opportunities to recover valuable resources from waste.

Open Source Data

Open-source data is a powerful tool for transparency, collaboration, and education. By making some of our data sets publicly available, A Greener Future enables students, advocates, and communities to use this information for school projects, advocacy campaigns, local initiatives, and general interest. This shared knowledge fosters greater understanding and drives meaningful action to address environmental challenges. Before using our data, we kindly ask that you review our Open-Source Data Policy to ensure it is used responsibly and in alignment with our mission to create a cleaner, healthier environment.

Nurdle Hunt Data

Each fall we join The Great Global Nurdle Hunt and host nurdle hunt events along the shores of Lake Ontario. We know where the hotspots are so we host multiple events annually in those locations, and there are still millions of nurdles to clean up.

Butt Blitz Data

With the support of Unsmoke Canada Cleanups we’ve been able to make a big impact across Canada by picking up over 5 million cigarette butts since 2015. We run our Butt Blitz program each April and host a mini event each September.

Love Your Lakes Data

Our Love Your Lakes program runs from May to the end of August each year. We focus primarily on the shores of Lake Ontario picking up all debris that doesn’t belong in the environment. Over 100 events are planned through this program annually.

Join Our Data-Driven Cleanup Movement

Volunteer for Cleanups

Participate in our events between April and October each year.

Support Change

Advocate for data-informed environmental legislation and sign petitions.

Spread Awareness

Share our data and findings with friends or on social media.

Reduce Waste

Use our data to make informed consumption choices.