Top 3 Essentials for Litter Picking

At Waterhaul, we turn the problem of plastic waste into the solution. By transforming end-of-life fishing nets and ropes into purposeful litter picking tools, we empower individuals and communities to take direct action against plastic pollution.

Why litter picking matters

The act of picking up litter from the ground is a simple action, but also an incredibly important one, given that more than two million pieces of litter are dropped in the UK every day.

Whether you’re joining a community cleanup, organising a beach clean, or simply want to make your daily walk more impactful, having the right litter picking equipment makes all the difference.

A sturdy litter picker and a few key accessories can keep you safe, comfortable, and effective while protecting the environment. In this guide, we’ll break down our top 3 litter picking essentials, explain what features to look for, and share extra tips to help you choose the best gear.

What to look for in a Litter Picker

The litter picker (also know as a trash grabber or litter grabber) is your most important piece of kit when litter picking, as they protect your hands from sharp or contaminated items.

What to look for in a litter picker:

• Length: For adults, we recommend litter pickers 30" and longer, to reduce having to bend over to pick items up. Shorter versions are lighter, more portable and are also good for children; while longer versions are helpful for roadside or hedgerow cleanups.
• Grip strength: Look for a claw mechanism with good tension and 'teeth' to help grip smaller items like cigarette butts or bottle caps.
• Handle comfort: An ergonomic handle reduces hand fatigue during longer cleanups.
• Durability: Look for lightweight yet durable aluminium shafts, and better still litter pickers that can be repaired at home for continued use.

WATERHAUL LITTER PICKING EQUIPMENT

The Waterhaul Ocean Positive Litter Picker is the ultimate tool for tackling plastic pollution, made from plastic pollution.

1. Ocean Positive Litter Picker

We built our Ocean Positive Litter Pickers to be the world's most sustainable litter picker.

Built using our Traceable Marine Plastic™ (fishing gear we've recovered from the UK coastline and recycled in the UK), all components are modular and replaceable, making it the last litter picker you'll have to purchase! Turning the plastic pollution problem into part of the solution!

• Available in Adult (33”) and Kids (22”) sizes.
• Lightweight and ergonomic for extended use (just 226g for adults).
• Foldable design for easy transport and storage.
• Modular and repairable, making this truly the last picker you’ll ever need.

Each picker diverts 115g of harmful plastic from the ocean and is fully traceable with a QR code, so you know the exact journey from the ocean plastic we recovered from the coastline to the litter picking tool you'll use to tackle plastic pollution.

Shop the Adults Ocean Positive Litter Picker or Kids Ocean Positive Litter Picker.

Our Bag Hoop for litter picking holds bin bags open; perfect for windy litter picks.

2. Recycled Plastic Bag Hoop

Windy day? Full hands? Using a litter picking hoop/ring avoids the hassle and difficulties of loose, flapping and ripping bin bags, particularly in windy conditions, while the folding design makes it compaitble with most bin bags, heavy duty refuse sacks, alongside our Ocean Positive Litter Picking Bag.

• Made from 300g of recycled polypropylene fishing gear, equivalent to around 7 meters of rope.
• 30cm diameter ring that fits most standard bin bags and waste sacks.
• Lightweight yet strong, designed to handle clean-ups in all conditions.

Perfect for individual use or volunteers recovering large volumes of litter.

Add our Ocean Positive Litter Picking Bag Hoop to your litter picking kit.

Our reusable litter picking bags are a great alternative to single use bin bags.

3. Reusable Litter Picking Bag

The perfect alternative to flimsy single-use litter bags. Our Reusable Litter Bag is handmade in Falmouth, Cornwall from upcycled spinnaker sails; a lightweight, often brightly coloured sail using on sailing boats when heading downwind.

• Each bag is durable, and can be washed and reused again and again.
• Each bag is unique, depending on the individual sail and where it was cut from.
• Lightweight (approx. 49g) and foldable for portability.
• Large enough (600mm x 540mm) to carry bulky beach litter or park waste.

By using end-of-life sails, we extend the life of the technical materials and reduce landfill (no facilities currently exist for recycling sails, with an estimated 97% of sails ending up in landfill), all while giving you a long-lasting, eco-friendly, reusable litter-picking bag.

Learn more about our Reusable Litter Picking Bags.

Our litter removal tools are designed to tackle plastic pollution without adding to the problem.

Waterhaul’s Top Litter Picking Tools At a Glance:

Why These Essentials Matter

We’ve designed every product at Waterhaul with purpose, durability, and ocean positivity in mind.

Our litter picking gear doesn’t just help clean up the environment; it’s made from the very waste we're trying to remove. It’s a true circular solution to the global plastic pollution problem; a problem that grows by two million pieces of litter a day in the UK alone.

Whether you're a first-time litter picker or a seasoned beach cleaner, these essential tools will make your clean-ups more effective, more comfortable, and more impactful.

Ready to Litter Pick With Purpose?

Litter picking is a small act that makes a big impact. With the right gear; a reliable litter picker, ergonomic bin bag hoop, and a reusable waste bag, you’ll be prepared to tackle any cleanup mission safely and sustainably.

Join our community of thousands of individuals, schools, and organisations using Waterhaul litter picking gear to fight plastic pollution at its source.

Explore our full range of litter picking equipment: Shop the range.

Together, we can turn the tide on ocean plastic; one picker, hoop, or bag at a time.