Some joggers now carry trash bags with them as part of the "Plogging" movement to pick up litter while they run.

"Plogging" - is a new exercise trend gaining momentum worldwide that provides a major benefit for every community and the planet in general.

The idea is simple, green and very effective.

Plogging is basically combining jogging with picking up litter along the way.

The idea is that after you put on your running shoes, you also don a pair of gloves or bring along a grabbing device. Then you take out a trash bag and off you go.

As you jog down the street, through a park or on a trail, you squat or bend down quickly and gather trash along the way.

When the bag is full, you place it in the nearest

Recycled plastic bench with engraved lettering

Recycled plastic benches have an attractive feature that could help parks and other facilities instantly add more benches to their location.

That feature - engraving.

Many cities across the country manage successful sponsorship programs as an inexpensive way to fill their grounds with park benches.

Probably one of the most successful programs is run by one of the most recognized parks in the world - Central Park in New York City.

More than 4,000 of the iconic park's 9,000 benches were installed from their adopt-a-bench program.

What a great way for a city to save

The #trashtag movement is gaining momentum

You may have heard about the new Internet phenomenon called the #TrashTag challenge. It is certainly gaining traction.

If you haven't, here's how it works.

The idea is modeled after the old #IceBucketChallenge. That's where people dumped a bucket of ice water on their heads and then agreed to pledge a few dollars.

The program was a fantastic way to raise both money and awareness for ALS disease (a motor neuron disease also known as Lou Gehrig's disease.)

You know your program is working when billionaire Bill Gates dumps a bucket of water on his head and then posts it on social media.

A few other challenges have come and gone, usually rather quickly. Like chewing on detergent pods. That trend

Outdoor ashtrays at parks and beaches are one way to alleviate the debate on smoking bans

Outdoor ashtrays are a smart strategy to consider in the debate on banning smoking from state and city parks and beaches.

The idea to outlaw smoking at parks and beaches continues to surface in different states around the US.

Gov. Jerry Brown of California recently vetoed, for the third time, a bill in his state that would have enacted such a ban.

The governor reportedly felt the bill amounted to overreaching by the government.

There are several issues involved.

Proponents of these bans argue about the dangers of secondhand smoke. Opponents say there are plenty of places in parks and beaches where people can avoid the smoke if they are concerned.

Another dispute is the possibility of forest

Vertical bicycle racks wall mounted at Ten Penn Center in Philadelphia

Vertical bicycle racks have become a more popular addition to buildings across the country as people prefer to bike to work and want extra protection for their expensive bicycles.

Take Ten Penn Center on Market Street in Philadelphia.

Penn Center is a prestigious retail and office complex in the heart of Philadelphia's business district. The buildings between 15th and 19th street provide nearly five million square feet in office and retail space.

At Ten Penn Center, General Manager Henry Glover recently had vertical bicycle racks from the Park and Facilities Catalog installed in a designated