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Dear Fellow Data Enthusiasts,

While Santa is pulled by his trusty reindeer – Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, and Blitzen – we need our trusty BLITZERS to keep this sleigh running!

2025 was a big year for our TrashBlitz platform as we continue to build a global movement of community scientists who document regional waste trends and drive solutions in their communities. Thanks to the support of volunteers, partners, and YOU, we were able to:

* Publish our fourth annual Plastic-Free Parks ([link removed]) report, which analyzed over 23,000 pieces of data at 59 sites. To nobody's surprise, plastic was the most prevalent material found, making up nearly 85% of waste recorded in 2025. This year’s data demonstrates the widespread presence of microplastics, with plastic pellets and fragments making up more than half of all items recorded!
* Launch TrashBlitz Florida ([link removed]) to develop a statewide perspective on the waste pollution crisis. More than 900 volunteers conducted cleanups across 45 sites, logging nearly 18,500 pieces of trash. More than 80% of the waste was plastic, revealing that Florida’s waste is largely driven by single-use plastics and that stronger measures are needed to reduce these plastics at the source.
* Co-organize the first International Plastic Pellet Count ([link removed]) , a global citizen science effort to quantify the extent of plastic pellet pollution. Volunteers collected nearly 50,000 nurdles at more than 200 sites across 14 countries, 29 U.S. states, and Washington, D.C. This report demonstrates the need for governments to better regulate plastic pellet pollution to safeguard ecosystems and human health around the world.
* Improve our TrashBlitz mobile app for a seamless backend and user experience. The updated app will allow users to join existing TrashBlitz projects, more easily log data and pull their individual or organizational waste data to present to local decision makers.

In 2026, we will continue to collect data, empower individuals, and support local groups in leading waste audits. The TrashBlitz data, combined with new sand and water microplastic sampling in the field, will inform targeted, science-based solutions such as dryer filtration, outdoor textile/gear re-design, and specific policy measures within our ongoing Microplastic-Free US ([link removed]) campaign.

We hope you can join us at a TrashBlitz event in the new year! And if you are unable to, please consider donating to fund our programs so we can continue our work to drive solutions to plastic pollution.
SUPPORT ANOTHER 15 YEARS OF TRASHBLITZ TODAY ([link removed])

See you out there!

Nick Kemble

Program Manager

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