Charity Spotlight: Lizzie Carr, Founder of Planet Patrol

Planet Patrol is a not-for-profit organisation committed to protecting, preserving, and restoring nature, with a focus on tackling single-use plastic and pollution in the UK.  This includes running community clean ups where participants collect litter data through the Planet Patrol app.

 

The data collected through the app is analysed by the organisation’s scientific partners and used to develop targeted solutions, hold polluters accountable, and shape government policies. Their Litter Map uses the data to identify litter trends and patterns around the world.

 

In this interview, we speak to the not-for-profit’s founder, Lizzie Carr, to learn more about the importance of quality community data collection and the development of the app, as well as the digital future of Planet Patrol’s campaign to clean up the planet.

 

 

Charity Digital (CD): Why is community data collection so important to Planet Patrol’s mission?

 

Lizzie Carr (LC): Community data collection is vital to our mission because without the individuals who participate, it would be impossible to capture pollution data on this scale. Planet Patrol brings together communities, creating a collective force that contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of environmental challenges and informs solutions.

 

The data gathered by our volunteers is a powerful tool for advocacy. It is building a scientifically robust repository of data evidence which can then be used for further research and campaigning. This evidence is essential for driving lasting change by influencing policymakers and polluters.

 

 

CD: How has Planet Patrol’s approach to community data collection developed since the organisation was founded?

 

LC: Planet Patrol’s journey began as a one-woman crusade and has evolved into a global movement. In 2016, I completed my first world challenge to paddleboard the length of England’s connected waterways solo and unsupported to raise awareness of the issue our inland waterways faced. I photographed every single piece of single-use pollution I saw and plotted it on a live map which was later developed into the app we know and use today.

 

Seven years on, and Planet Patrol has over 50,000 volunteers who have helped to record nearly half a million pieces of litter data and over 1600 water quality readings in the app. We are revolutionising the way we address environmental issues by democratising data collection and empowering a global community dedicated to environmental action. 

 

 

Lizzie Carr raised awareness for environmental issues by being the first person in history to paddleboard the entire length of Britain’s waterways, solo and unsupported

 

 

CD: How was the Planet Patrol app developed?

 

LC: Before the Planet Patrol app was developed for people all over the world to share real time litter data, it was simply an interactive map.

 

Over time, as the organisation has evolved and the environmental issues we are tackling have broadened, functionality and features in the app have been upgraded. Not only are we collecting granular litter data all over the world with uploads in more that 113 countries globally, we have also introduced bi-annual observational data surveys into the app that assess the health of waterways nationwide.

 

Our most recent features allow volunteers to record water quality data and report water pollution incidents and include gamification elements to increase retention.

 

 

CD: How have you been able to ensure that the data collected by so many different people is of the best possible quality to contribute to the organisation’s goals?

 

LC: The importance of collecting data in an accessible and user-friendly way has been a significant part of Planet Patrol’s app development. Establishing clear and standardised procedures for data collection has helped ensure there is consistency.

 

We also implement quality control measures during and after data collection. This involves spot-checking, manual verifications and cross-validation to identify and correct errors.

 

 

Race For Rivers was a 642km water-testing relay from Surrey to Cumbria involving over 100 participants

 

 

CD: What do you think are the opportunities and limitations of social media in campaigning?

 

LC: Social media has played a huge part in Planet Patrol’s growth as it’s enabled us to reach people – completely free – over the years and galvanise support for our mission.  It continues to be a key part of what we do, and it allows us to share news and urgent calls to action. 

 

Social media platforms are susceptible to the spread of misinformation, which is one of its limitations in the campaigning space. And while social media can raise awareness, it can sometimes stay in echo chambers and may not always translate into tangible offline actions. Achieving real-world impact requires a multifaceted approach beyond online activism and that’s something we are heavily focused on.

 

 

CD: How has your podcast ‘Earthshakers’ had an impact on other aspects of your work at Planet Patrol?

 

CD: What would you like to see for the future of Planet Patrol and how it uses digital technologies?

 

LC: Utilising digital technology has always been at the core of Planet Patrol. We launched a litter tracking app in 2016 and have been adding features and developing it into a more sophisticated community science tool since. The Planet Patrol app, which houses an international repository of data collected by volunteers, is also what truly sets us apart from other campaigning organisations.

 

In the future, we see our community and our data continuing to grow. We are exploring innovations in digital technologies to help measure and monitor water quality more effectively but, ultimately, we want to see community science formally recognised in government frameworks to address environmental issues and used to help inform solutions.