Dash for Trash

Pick up waste. Track the impact.
Where teamwork, speed, and action come together.

A Planet POV initiative by UNIQLO, in partnership with Green Nudge.

What It Is

Inspired by the spirit of competitive litter-picking in Japan, Dash for Trash is a cleanup challenge designed for Singapore’s coastlines and neighbourhoods.

Waste collected is weighed, recorded, and ranked, allowing teams to see the effect a group of three can make in just one hour.

Why It Matters

Dash for Trash invites students to step outdoors and see the reality of waste for themselves.

It complements classroom learning through hands-on environmental action that is measurable, immediate, and shared as a team.

  • VIA hours provided
  • No cost to schools
  • Equipment and facilitation included

Initiative Reach

As of August 2026, the competition has engaged over:

749

Participants

5,315 kg

Of trash collected

1,689

Participant hours

Programme Reach

Since the programme began, it has engaged over 1,110 students from 17 schools, contributing to a growing total of 1,990 participant hours to date.

How It Works

  • Students compete in teams of 3, with at least 20 teams (minimum 60 students) participating per school session.
  • Over 60 minutes, teams collect as much waste as possible within a designated cleanup zone using provided equipment.
  • Collected waste is weighed and logged, with the top 3 teams from each school qualifying for the Dash for Trash Finals in August 2026.
  • The winning school takes home a Challenge Trophy made from recycled materials.

What to expect

Briefing

Teams gather for a safety briefing, competition overview, waste-collection guidance, and equipment distribution.

60-Minute Cleanup Challenge

The challenge begins. Teams head into their assigned zones and collect as much waste as possible within an hour.

Weigh-In & Logging

All collected waste is returned to the station for weighing and recording by team. Rankings are determined by total weight collected, with volume used as a tiebreaker where needed. Waste types are also compiled to help identify common items and pollution patterns across the area.

Results & Debrief

Results are announced on-site. The top 3 teams from each school qualify for the Finals!

Competition timeline

The competition runs approximately 10 sessions between April and August 2026, alternating between coastal and urban cleanup sites across Singapore.

Note: Registration has closed for 2026.

  • School sessions (April to August 2026)
    
Each school participates in one session
  • Top teams qualify

    Top 3 teams per school advance to finals
  • Dash for Trash Finals (August 2026)
    Qualifying teams compete for the inaugural Challenge Trophy

Events

Raffles Institution

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 1

A total of 120 boarding school J1 students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 617.5kg of waste from Changi Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Morrison 10 — 40kg
  • Moor 16 — 102kg
  • Moor 13 — 60kg

Raffles Institution

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 2

A total of 126 boarding school students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 1000.5kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 43 — 76kg
  • Team 4 — 76kg
  • Team 10 — 70kg

Naval Base Secondary School

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 3

A total of 70 students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 225kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 23 — 67kg
  • Team 1 — 27kg
  • Team 25 — 17kg

Student-led Initiative, Project Beachy Beaches

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 4

A total of 23 students from various schools took part in the coastal cleanup session as part of a student-led initiative. Together, participants removed 70.5kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 9 — 19kg
  • Team 1 — 10kg
  • Team 2 — 9kg

St Patrick’s School

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 5

A total of 65 students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 207kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 7 — 26.3kg
  • Team 18 — 25.7kg
  • Team 11— 22.3kg

Raffles Institution

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 6

A total of 104 boarding school students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 604.5kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 23 — 55kg
  • Team 6 — 49kg
  • Team 9 — 44kg

Loyang View Secondary School

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 7

A total of 84 students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 524kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 9 — 35kg
  • Team 14 — 34.5kg
  • Team 8 — 34kg

Unity Secondary School

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 8

A total of 40 students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 600kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 12 — 80kg
  • Team 1 — 79.8kg
  • Team 8 — 79kg

Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School

Dash for Trash — Coastal Cleanup Session 9

A total of 66 students took part in the coastal cleanup session. Together, participants removed 758kg of waste from East Coast Beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Team 13 — 96.3kg
  • Team 7 — 68kg
  • Team 3 — 58kg

Dash for Trash — 2026 Finale Event

A total of 51 participants took part in the finale coastal cleanup session at East Coast Beach, comprising winning teams from previous sessions and representatives from 6 schools. Together, they removed 683.55 kg of waste from the beach.

Winning Teams:

  • Dash for Trash 2026 Champion: Team 13 (Unity Secondary School) — 122.7 kg
  • 1st Runner-Up: Team 8 (Raffles Institution) — 89 kg
  • 2nd Runner-Up: Team 1 (Pasir Ris Crest Secondary School) — 62.45 kg
  • Wildcard Champion: Team 49 (UNIQLO) — 25 kg

Real Stories, Real Results

Forget hearsay — here's what our participants truly have to say about joining the initiative:

For me, the most memorable part is seeing how much trash we collected from the beach and how we managed to clear it. I hope that partnerships like this allow people to feel that this is not something that requires a lot of resources, inspiring more people to join. Having partnerships like this can also inspire more communities to get involved through competitions or prizes to attract more people to join.

Kayden, Student from Raffles Institution

Real Stories, Real Results

Forget hearsay—here's what our clients truly have to say about working with us:

I think beyond being informative, the trail was inspiring! I truly appreciated that the Green Nudge team customised the session for us and tried their best to really meet all the objectives that we discussed beforehand.

Educator from Punggol Secondary School

Real Stories, Real Results

Forget hearsay — here's what our participants truly have to say about joining the initiative:

The most memorable part of the Dash for Trash cleanup for me was picking up trash with my friends. Since we have gone our separate ways and to different schools, Dash for Trash allowed me to reconnect with them. Despite the hard work, I still had fun in the process. I hope that through these initiatives, other communities can start to do their part, whether through hands-on activities or by helping in their own way, big or small.

Caleb, Student from Ngee Ann Polytechnic

Real Stories, Real Results

Forget hearsay — here's what our participants truly have to say about joining the initiative:

My most memorable part of Dash for Trash was spending time with my friends while making the beach cleaner. After taking part, one thing I will do differently is recycle my plastic waste more often. I’ll also remember to keep the environment cleaner and pick up any trash I see on the ground.

Vera, Student from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Heading

Real Stories, Real Results

Forget hearsay — here's what our participants truly have to say about joining the initiative:

My most memorable moment was the sense of fulfilment I felt upon seeing how much trash we had collected. After this experience, I will definitely look out for litter and make more of an effort to clean it up.

Keira, Student from Anglo-Chinese School (Independent)

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a cost to the school?

No. Equipment, facilitation, and safety briefings are fully covered by the organising team.

What if we don’t have 60 students?

The 60-student minimum helps create a meaningful competitive experience. We encourage schools to open participation across levels or CCAs. If numbers are still short, reach out to us — we may be able to pair your school with another for a joint session.

Can we choose our session date?

Schools may indicate their preferred time window upon sign-up. While we’ll do our best to accommodate requests, session dates are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis and must take place before August.

Do students need prior experience?

Not at all. The programme is fully guided by trained facilitators. Teachers are only required to be present for supervision and student coordination.

What about student safety? 

All participants receive a safety briefing before the cleanup. Gloves, litter grabbers, and collection bags are provided, and locations are selected with accessibility and safety in mind. A first aid kit and first-aid-trained facilitators are present on-site at every session.

What happens to the waste collected?

All collected waste is sorted, weighed, and recorded. Waste is collected by public waste collectors and sent to incineration plants in Singapore. Data on waste types and quantities also contributes to broader environmental research conducted by Green Nudge.

Is this a one-off?

No. Dash for Trash is designed as an annual schools cleanup league, with 2026 marking its first edition. We hope to grow the programme each year by expanding the number of participating schools and cleanup sessions.

About the Partnership

Planet POV (Point of View) – Your Insights, Your Actions is a youth outreach education programme by UNIQLO, in partnership with Green Nudge, designed to equip young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to undertake climate action.

As the programme developer and experience partner, we enhance classroom learning through practical activities that engage youth with real-world environmental issues and foster meaningful action.

Explore Planet POV

Register Your School

Bring Dash for Trash to your school and take students beyond the classroom. Compete, clean, and make a measurable impact!

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