Plalking: How Picking Up Trash Became a Way to Love Your Neighborhood

 

In a quiet neighborhood in southeast Roanoke, Virginia, something unexpected has been happening every Tuesday at 5:15 p.m. A group of neighbors grab grocery bags, put on gloves, and go for a walk—but not just any walk. They pick up litter along the way. This simple act, now known as plalking, is helping change their neighborhood and bring people together in a surprising and powerful way.

You may be wondering: What in the world is plalking?

Let’s start with the word itself. Plalking is a mix of picking up litter and walking. The idea came from a Swedish fitness trend called plogging—which combines jogging with picking up trash. But as Sunni, a leader in her neighborhood, pointed out, “We are not going to be running around picking up litter. We'll take a walk and do it.”

And with that, plalking was born.

From a Bad Reputation to Big Change

Sunni didn’t set out to start a movement. She just loved her neighborhood.

“I live here, and I have friends that live here, and we have a pleasant and positive experience in the neighborhood,” she said. “We love it here.”

But others didn’t always see it that way.

The southeast quadrant of Roanoke—where Sunni lives—is made up of about 12 different neighborhoods and over 2,000 homes. Sadly, the entire area was often judged by just a few of its roughest parts.

“Our reputation is based on our worst neighborhoods in the quadrant, which unfortunately are riddled with slums and blight and litter,” Sunni explained. “We are battling the reputation that this is not a place you really want to go, and definitely don’t want to live.”

So how do you change a reputation?

For Sunni and her neighbors, it started with something simple: a bright green shirt that said “I ❤️ SE.”

“SE” stood for Southeast. “We printed t-shirts and yard signs and bracelets and stickers,” Sunni said. “We just started distributing as much as possible… just to express that there are people that do love where they live here in southeast and care about it and are trying to take action.”

And one of those actions turned out to be plalking.

The Birth of Plalking

One day, Sunni was out walking with a friend in the neighborhood. They started noticing all the litter on the sidewalks and in the grass.

“We said, ‘Gosh, we should really bring a grocery bag to pick up some of this trash while we're out here walking around.’”

Next time, they did just that. Then they invited others to join them. Week after week, more people came. Now, plalking happens every Tuesday evening, with rotating meeting places focused on two main roads—places with a lot of visibility.

“We don’t want recognition,” Sunni said. “We just want people to see that there are people who care about the neighborhood and are taking action.”

It’s Not Just About Trash

Plalking is about more than just cleaning up the streets. It’s about building community.

Sunni put it this way: “Picking up litter is really not the most important thing. It seems like it would be, but really, just getting out there shows people that there are people who care. And walking with your neighbors gives you a chance to talk and look around and connect.”

As people walk slowly together, they build friendships. They notice the little things. They learn more about the neighborhood—and each other.

And it turns out that other neighbors notice too.

“We’ve had people pull over in their cars and say, ‘What are you doing? How do we get involved?’” Sunni said. “One lady even drove down to 7-Eleven, bought a case of water, and tracked us down just to hand it out.”

Porch conversations have bloomed. People bring out drinks. And strangers become friends.

“There’s been a lot of really neat engagement with neighbors that aren’t plalking with us but want to support us,” Sunni said. “I’ve developed friendships through plalking that I wouldn’t have otherwise, especially during the pandemic when there wasn’t much else to do.”

From One Neighborhood to a Citywide Effort

Plalking has grown beyond the southeast quadrant. “We’ve had neighborhood leaders from other quadrants come to our plalks to see what we’re doing,” Sunni said.

In fact, they’re now preparing to launch a Roanoke Plawkers citywide program to help other neighborhoods start their own plalking groups.

So how do you start a plalking effort in your own neighborhood?

Sunni has some advice.

How to Start Plalking in Your Community

“It’s simple,” she says. “Pick a day that you’re able to commit to. Maybe it’s not every week—maybe it’s once a month—but be consistent.”

Next, invite others. Use social media. Post flyers. Talk to your neighbors. You don’t need a lot of supplies—just some grocery bags and maybe a pair of gardening gloves. And don’t worry if you’re the only one who shows up at first.

“Even if people don’t come, you’re still going to be picking up litter and doing your good work anyway,” Sunni said. “Hopefully, you can rally some friends to help you, but either way, you're doing something good.”

Some communities even have nonprofits or city programs that provide gloves, grabbers, or trash bags. In Roanoke, the Clean Valley Council helps support the effort with supplies.

The key, Sunni says, is leadership. “People want to do this. They just need a leader to step up and invite them.”

Building Partnerships and Positivity

Plalking isn’t just about neighbors. It’s also drawn attention from others in the community.

“We’ve had nonprofits that do work in the neighborhood join us just to get another view of the area and meet people,” Sunni said. “We’ve had city council members come, sheriff candidates, Boy Scout troops, even local businesses like running stores that want to help out.”

Those partnerships make the effort even stronger. And best of all, the energy is contagious.

“People get hooked once they come,” Sunni said. “There’s something addicting about it. You see a really messy area, and 30 minutes later, it’s sparkling.”

A Heart for Southeast

For Sunni and her neighbors, plalking is about more than litter—it’s about love.

That’s why they hold an annual Love Southeast Fest, a big community event filled with fun, food, and friendship. And every time they’re out picking up trash or handing out shirts that say “I ❤️ SE”, they’re spreading a little more of that love.

“When you’re talking about love and hearts, nobody can get mad about that,” Sunni laughed. “It’s just an easy way to push out positive vibes.”

And that’s what plalking is really all about—positivity, connection, and hope.

Final Thoughts: One Person Can Make a Difference

Sunni never expected to become the president of her neighborhood group or start a movement. But when she saw a need and took a simple step—going for a walk with a grocery bag—she made a difference.

Now, every week, dozens of people join her. Their streets are cleaner. Their neighborhood is friendlier. And their community is stronger.

So the next time you go for a walk, think about bringing a bag and picking up some trash. Maybe invite a friend. Who knows—your walk might turn into something much bigger than you ever imagined.

As Sunni says, “It’s quite a simple idea really… but it spreads so much positivity.”

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Ready to start plalking in your neighborhood? Just pick a time, invite some friends, and take that first step. You might clean up more than just the streets—you might help clean up a reputation, build friendships, and change a community for the better.

Written by David L. Burton

MORE INFORMATION

Take the Engaged Neighbor pledge and become part of a movement! The pledge outlines five categories and 20 principles to guide you toward becoming an engaged neighbor. Sign the pledge at https://nomoregoodneighbors.com. Individuals who take the pledge do get special invitations to future events online and in person. Contact the blog author, David L. Burton via emal at dburton541@yahoo.com.