Earth Day 2025: Bar-Ilan University’s "Take the Garbage with You" initiative takes a bold step toward ending littering and safeguarding our planet

The Take the Garbage with You initiative, founded by Prof. Michal Zion, from the Faculty of Education and the Center for Energy and Sustainability at Bar-Ilan University, introduces a new approach to tackling the global issue of litter in public spaces. Rather than emphasizing traditional cleanup efforts, the project encourages individuals to take responsibility for the waste they produce, promoting prevention over cleanup.

The Take the Garbage with You project addresses the growing environmental crisis caused by litter— plastic waste, among others —and its direct links to climate change and biodiversity loss. It challenges the conventional belief that littering is merely an aesthetic issue, emphasizing how it contributes to greenhouse gas emissions and harms marine ecosystems. Studies show that plastic waste alone could result in over 56 gigatons of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050—around 10–13% of the Earth’s remaining carbon budget.

Prof. Zion explains, “The waste we leave behind in public spaces is more than just an eyesore; it’s a threat to the planet’s future. It’s harming marine life, polluting our ecosystems, and contributing to the climate crisis in ways that many people don’t realize.”

Despite the increasing number of community cleanups, Zion argues these efforts are insufficient in addressing the root of the problem. “If every year we collect more and more garbage, doesn’t that indicate that the problem is only getting worse?” she asks. While traditional cleanups may offer a temporary sense of achievement, they fail to change the underlying behavioral patterns that lead to littering in the first place.

The Take the Garbage with You initiative advocates for a paradigm shift, encouraging individuals to assume personal responsibility for their garbage and the environment. In doing so, participants not only reduce pollution but also become more mindful of their consumption habits and waste generation. The project aims to establish a new social norm in which everyone understands their garbage is their responsibility—wherever they go.

The project operates on four key strategies:

1. Changing Consciousness: Instilling a cultural norm that “my garbage is my responsibility” and prioritizing prevention, over cleanup. Reducing consumption and switching to reusable utensils are part of this effort.
2. Educational-Research Program: A structured program that integrates environmental education with the development of 21st-century skills like critical thinking, creativity, and metacognition.
3. Promoting Enforcement and Fines: Enhancing enforcement mechanisms and raising fines for littering in public spaces.
4. Changing Infrastructure: Reducing the number of garbage bins in public areas while ensuring that remaining bins are large, strategically placed, and emptied frequently.

This unique approach aligns with recent psychological research on consumer behavior, focusing on elements like social influence, habits, and self-perception. Prof. Zion believes the initiative could serve as a global model for countries struggling with litter and waste management.

“We’re seeing in Israel a model that can have a far-reaching impact,” says Prof. Zion. “The problem of littering in public spaces is a global issue. By taking personal responsibility for our garbage, we can spark a worldwide movement to protect the environment.”

The Take the Garbage with You initiative empowers individuals to take meaningful action on a personal level, offering a tangible solution to a critical environmental challenge. Prof. Zion urges people to join the movement, raise awareness about the broader environmental consequences of waste, and advocate for stronger anti-littering policies.