The Scout movement is a worldwide movement that supports young people's self-driven growth through non-formal education, centered on local groups called "troops", alongside official school education. In Japan, about 90,000 people, from children to adults, take part in activities such as nature experiences and community service.

In this interview, we asked about the nationwide activities of the "Plastic Litter Busters Operation", a project for the 100th anniversary of the Scout Association of Japan, a public interest incorporated foundation. We also asked why they used Pirika for Businesses and Organizations' "Visualization Page", and about an upcycling project for oyster pipes, one of the local issues in Suo-Oshima, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

1. Scouts support young people's "learning by experience" and contribute to their communities

— When people think of Scouts, they think of camping and nature experiences. Do you also do "community service"?

In Japan, each group, called a "troop", has "Scouts" from first grade to university age and "leaders" who are older than university students. Through hiking, camping and other experiences, and through service such as cleanups and fundraising, we aim to raise "good citizens".

The Scout Association of Japan reached its 100th anniversary in 2022. We have carried out many activities, and some have lasted for nearly half a century.
Local troops have also run activities that support "learning by experience", with respect for young people's independence. Working with the local community is essential for these activities. To show our thanks to our communities, we started "Scout Day", a community service day held nationwide at the same time.

— So litter picking and cleanups are part of Scout Day service too.

Troops across the country had done litter picking and cleanups for a long time. Recently we have put more effort into it as an education program that includes elements such as achieving the SDGs, a global goal. Of course, outside "Scout Day", each troop also does service that fits its community.

— On "Scout Day" in 2022, you ran a large-scale litter-picking event called the "Plastic Litter Busters Operation".

2022 was the 100th anniversary of the Scout Association of Japan, so we looked for a memorable program that children and Scouts could join. The keywords that came up were "community" and "plastic".

In the past, the theme of "Scout Day" focused on empty cans, and we called the operation "Can-try Operation" (a pun: "kan" means "can" in Japanese). There was also a time when there were very many cigarette butts.

But in recent years, since the heavy use of PET bottles began, the kinds of litter on the ground have changed to plastic, starting with PET bottles. The World Organization of the Scout Movement, our international organization, has also shifted its attention and added programs on marine plastic pollution and microplastics. With this in mind, we focused on "plastic litter" this time and named it the "Plastic Litter Busters Operation".

— The children and Scouts who take part must be of very different ages. Do you do anything to give education that suits each age?

In Scouting, we basically do not divide children by age. We aim for the educational effect of children of different ages spending time together, so we actively encourage them to mix.

So we make booklets and worksheets for each age group, which helps children of different ages share the same mission. A specialist team that makes Scout materials creates them, focusing on being "simple", "game-like" and "easy for leaders to explain to children", so that children enjoy them.

— I saw the booklet myself. It is fun and cute, even for an adult, and I could imagine how the children's faces would look when they see it.

What did the children who joined the litter picking say?

The children told us they were surprised, saying "There is this much litter!", and made discoveries like "There is litter here, but none over there."

At Suo-Oshima in Yamaguchi Prefecture in particular, everyone was surprised by how many oyster pipes had washed up on the shore. I think we were able to teach, through experience, that "litter on the shore is not only PET bottles and cans".

*Oyster pipes: thin plastic tubes used in oyster farming to keep space between the shells

2. The "Visualization Page" improved how we share litter-picking activities

— For this "Plastic Litter Busters Operation", you used the "Visualization Page", which shows litter-picking activities. What did the "Visualization Page" make possible?

First, we could share our litter picking as a Scout community service with society. We had always counted the amount of litter picked and the number of participants. Until about ten years ago we received reports by fax, and for the last five years or so, by web form. This time, using Pirika, the number of pieces picked and the number of people were totaled on the "Visualization Page" in real time, which made our message stronger.

In addition, we can now report our activities to the World Organization of the Scout Movement and the United Nations with numbers.

Pictures posted to the "Visualization Page" also let us share how children and Scouts are doing in different regions. Normally you only see what is happening in your own area. Seeing other regions' work through Pirika may encourage them to keep going.

3. Not only "picking up" oyster pipes but "putting them to use" through upcycling

— In the "Plastic Litter Busters Operation", you upcycled oyster pipes picked up in Suo-Oshima, Yamaguchi Prefecture. How did that start?

With support from the Seven-Eleven Foundation, we were able to run two upcycling projects: "PET bottle caps to SDGs badges" and "oyster pipes to shopping baskets".

Ideally, all the litter we pick up would be upcycled. But this time we learned how hard upcycling is and how many limits there are. Local people joined us, and we confirmed that working with the community and the government is essential to keep improving the area and upcycling.

"Scout Day" has run for more than 40 years, and no other event has lasted so long. I am personally happy that it could grow into upcycling this time. Last December we also showed the upcycled items at "ECO-PRO 2022", where many children saw the finished products. Showing children right in front of them the recycling flow, where picked-up litter is reused as products, probably had a strong educational effect.

*ECO-PRO: an exhibition that shows eco-friendly products, services and environmental technologies, aiming to solve environmental problems and build a sustainable society

4. Finally, a message for people thinking of trying the Pirika litter-picking app

On the Pirika App, you get a "thank you" when you post. Children keep picking up litter because they are happy to get a "thank you" from someone when they pick up litter and post on Pirika. In fact, even after the "Plastic Litter Busters Operation" period ended, the number of pieces of litter shown on the "Visualization Page" kept rising. During the project from July to November, 2 million pieces were picked up, and in December and January another 2 million were added. It is still growing. Sometimes when I look, the total has gone up by 100,000 pieces! I think this "Plastic Litter Busters Operation" became a good place to learn how to keep up litter picking as community service. I hope this "thank you" will keep motivating children to join Scout activities actively and continuously.

Another strength is that you can share without showing people's faces, and that it is trusted because many local governments use it. People who pick up litter across Japan form a network through Pirika, and I think it is a good fit for children. It is nice to see children's efforts recognized in a visible way like this.

Official website of Plastic Litter Busters (Japanese): here

Details of Pirika for Businesses and Organizations: here

Details of Recycling: here