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 trash receptacle.

The word "plogging" actually originated in Sweden. It's a combination of the word jog and "plocka up" which just as it sounds, means "pick up." The trend is attributed to an avid Swedish trail runner named Erik Ahlstron and started in 2016.

Gradually, the word about plogging spread globally thanks to Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

This movement is very similar to the #trashtag craze, another social fad with very positive results.

With the #trashtag program, a person takes a "Before" photo of an area where litter is prevalent. They clean up the area and place the garbage in trash bags.

Then they shoot an "After" photo of the clean-up location. The photos are then uploaded to Instagram, Facebook or Twitter or other social media sites with the hashtag "trashtag.

Many people might criticize and make fun of selfie Instagrammers. But in this case, anybody who takes the time and effort to help clean up the environment should be applauded (or in this day and age, "Liked" and "Shared.")

Plogging can have the same effect.

Plogging is jogging with a trash bag

Plogger ready to dump litter they gathered into a trash receptacle

If a person is going to go on a morning jog through their town, why not help to clean up the community along the way?

In America, the average person produces about 4.4 pounds of trash per day. Some of that trash does not make it into residential or commercial trash cans. Instead, it ends up on the ground in our beautiful parks or as an eyesore on our roads.

That trash then creates an overall negative impact on a community.

Even worse small litter such as discarded cigarette butts can be flushed down our storm drains and into our waterways. There these small pieces of trash can cause harm to fish and wildlife.

Plogging is not only good for the environment, it's good for you.

The practice has become more sophisticated. Exercise experts have examined the routine and say that using intermittent squats, bending and stretching to pick up trash while you run has major benefits.

Plogging builds muscle. Strengthens your core. Burns about 50 more calories per 30 minutes than just jogging.

It's a win-win.

Find or start a plogging group in your town

Plogging events are starting to surface around the globe.

Keep America Beautiful organized a program called "Trashercize" which encourages people to put on their running shoes and clean up their streets.

Trash receptacle

In Oakland, CA, a group called "Fit4Good" jogs around town and picks up litter.

In Kolar, India a program called "Go Plog" has removed more than 16 tons of garbage by plogging.

Writer David Sedaris gained a bit of unexpected fame while living in West Sussex, England when he started picking up litter while trying to boost the number of steps on his FitBit device.

He became so well-known and cleaned up so much trash that one local town named a garbage truck in his honor.

That's the power of plogging!

Some people have become so involved in plogging that they say the end result is even better than a regular runner's high!

They liken the practice to somewhat of a treasure hunt. Finding that ugly garbage and getting it out of sight.

The most prevalent items collected by ploggers include plastic bottles, bottle caps, candy wrappers, fast food containers, cups, lids and straws. Ploggers are advised to steer clear of any discarded syringes, diapers or other questionable trash. Leave that for the more knowledgeable sanitation crews.

At this point, people can find "plogging" groups in just about any major city. Just search on Facebook, Instagram or MeetUp.

If your town doesn't have a group, start one. What a great way to meet friends and what a great way to do something positive for your community. And get a workout at the same time.

People like to jog (or walk, hike and paddle). People also like the streets and parks in their town be clean.

What a great combination.

Put on your "Plogging" gear. Get out there and remove that unsightly rubbish from city streets and parks.

And go ahead, post a "Before" photo with an empty trash bag and an "After" photo as you throw that full bag into the trash receptacle.

Raise awareness about plogging. Don't' get disenchanted by all the trash or litter.

Small steps by a bunch of joggers can eventually bring about a BIG reduction of litter in a community...and our planet.