World Clean Up Day

Friday September 20 marks the World CleanUp Day. On this day, all over the member states of the United Nations, people are called to raise awareness, for the state of the world and how much trash we produce and throw away without giving it a second thought. It is supposed to remind people of our collective responsibility of maintaining and preserving a healthy and clean environment on land and water but also to engage in sustainable resources and waste management.

In 2023, 45 700 people participated in 555 events that were set up in 44 countries distributed across the world. A cleaner environment plays a role in many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, not just to protect the environment, but also by aiming for a more sustainable and responsible consumption or also promoting community engagement and collaboration

An Example: Beach Clean Ups

One example are Beach Clean Ups where the beaches and coastal areas is freed from litter, debris and other polluting items. They are essential to have a chance in combatting marine pollution and thereby in helping marine ecosystem, wildlife and coastal communities. Most people have heard of the threat litter poses to marine animals that can get tangled, eat litter or are impacted by the toxic effects of debris. But Beach Clean Ups don’t just aid marine conservation and the biodiversity but it also impacts us humans. Beaches that are filled with litter can pose a health risk for visitors, as they can contain harmful bacteria. This however is not the only way it can impact us. Plastic trash breaks down into microplastics and can then eventually end up in the seafood that we consume. Not to mention the impact it has on tourism. 

If you want to read more a project that we worked on to clean up National Nature Park Synevyr in Ukraine follow this link: https://wilderness-society.org/wilderness-projects/archive/clean-up-synevyr-national-nature-park-ukraine/

Leave no Trace

Within tourism the seven principles of ‘leave no trace’ apply. These include planning ahead, respecting wildlife, but also to dispose of Waste properly. This includes that when you wash dishes in nature, it should be done 200 feet (approx. 60m) away from streams or lakes to not pollute clean waterways. It also means that a visitor is supposed to take everything they have brought, whether it be trash, food or anything else. This also includes to deposit human waste in catholes, not to leave a trace so to speak.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

It is important to note however, that clean ups can only do so much and only present a temporary solution. To attempt a more permanent solution would be to look at the root cause of pollution: overconsumption and improper waste disposal.

To combat overconsumption the approach of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle’ is interesting to look at. It contains the ideas to reduce what you need, which is the most important aspect, because what is a better way to reduce waste by not even creating it. The next step would be to reduce what you already have or to buy second hand. And if this is not an option, try to recycle what you want to dispose of instead of letting it go to the landfill.

Spread the Word!

It doesn’t matter if you join a big clean up event or go for a walk on your own and pick up that deserted piece of trash that you find along the street, we all can do out part. Click here: https://www.worldcleanupday.org to find an event near you where you and other motivated people can help clean our environment, no matter where you are in the world!