Note: Our Spring “Nature Tech” series for kids was so popular that we’ve decided to occasionally post about a useful nature app for your smartphone or tablet. 

As a public location, trash is something we are very aware of at Reinstein Woods. We are fortunate that despite lots of visitors, our trails remain relatively trash free. However, the same can’t be said of most public roads and especially the ocean.

Now there’s an app that lets citizens help scientists work toward a trash-free future: Litterati.

Available for Apple and Android devices, the app is simple: snap a photo of a piece of litter and tag it with keywords (e.g. #cigarette #Marlboro). The app adds a “geotag” with location information. According to litterati.org, “Geotags provide insight into problem areas, while keywords identify the most commonly found brands and products. This data will be used to work with companies and organizations to find more sustainable solutions.”

Best of all, you don’t have to use your phone’s data – you can wait to upload the photos to Litterati until you are in a place that has Wifi. Ideally, you will pick up the litter and either recycle it or place it in the trash. The app shows your “impact” by tracking how many pieces of litter you collect, and the website even has an interactive map showing where trash has been picked up across the globe.

There’s even a guide for teachers who want to use the app in their curriculum. So before you pick up that abandoned pop can on your next nature hike, snap a photo with the Litterati app. You could be helping to build a trash-free future!