Kia ora, I'm Su and I'm a Litter Picker-Upper. A Litter Womble. A Waste Warrior.

I have made the street, berm, parks and gutter cleaning of my neighbourhood my passion. I'm attempting to divert the abandoned rubbish from entering the stormwater system and from there reaching the beach and the Pacific Ocean. This wombling, sadly, has become a daily habit, a routine. I walk and often cycle and I always see and rescue litter.

I'm dumbfounded as to why people litter. Why are the stormwater drains not cleared? Why do the shopkeepers and residents not adopt their outside footpath and gutter or berm? Why do visitors trash my town? Why a bin is not located at every bus stop in Tauranga? Why do littering people not notice their behaviour (especially in a clean area where the culture of permission is obviously prohibiting littering). Why don't the cigarette manufacturers provide a butt receptacle, as part of the cigarette packet? Why do most smokers litter?

My reason for rescuing the litter is because every piece of litter I encounter hurts and perplexes me. I'm compelled to tidy it away. I'm determined to prevent the litter I meet from entering the ocean. My wombling behaviour has reached the warrior level.

I've realised that it's easier to keep my environment safe and tidy if I womble every day. Everyday I walk my talk as a role model. I want others to be careful by not littering, and if they do see litter, they pick up it up. In this way, together, one piece of litter at a time, we will, we can, eliminate litter.

To tidy up the mess I see in my neighbourhood, I take my litter collection bags for a walk. This task is relentless, so what is my personal pay off ?

I get a satisfaction in knowing that where I've been is clean and safe. I feel productive as I've make a difference. Litter Wombling keeps me physically fit. I am exposured to fresh air, rain and I meet lovely people who engage me in conversations. Litter Wombling is meditative. It is ultimately an act of kindness and I know I'm serving my community and the Planet.