World Cleanup Day

World Cleanup Day (aka WCD) is an annual global social action program aimed at combating the global solid waste problem, including the problem of marine debris. The next World Cleanup Day is 19 September 2020.

World Cleanup Day
Date(s)19 September 2020 (2020-09-19)
FrequencyAnnually
Location(s)Worldwide
Years active11
Participants5% of world population (380000000) (goal)
Budget~$1 million
Websitewww.worldcleanupday.org

World Cleanup Day is celebrated with litter cleanup and waste mapping activities spanning every time zone. Environmental cleanup events are held in nearly every country until concluding near the international date line in Hawaii and American Samoa.

Purpose
An example of the pollution that World Clean Up Day aims to clean up.

World Cleanup Day is held over the course of a 24-hour period, on the 3rd Saturday of September annually. World Cleanup Day aims to raise awareness of the mismanaged waste crisis by mobilizing all spheres of society to participate in cleanup actions. Individuals, governments, corporations and organisations are all encouraged to take part in cleanups and to find solutions to tackle mismanaged waste. There are numerous organizations that facilitate and host World Cleanup Day events globally. Like Earth Day, World Cleanup Day is non-partisan, apolitical, and is not affiliated with any national or global political party or discrete ideology.[1].

History

The inaugural World Cleanup Day was 15 September 2018, but it builds on the successes of previous global cleanup efforts. The goal of World Cleanup Day 2018 was to involve 5% of the world's population (or approximately 380 million people). While the effort fell short of the goal, WCD18 directly mobilized 18 million people worldwide.

The 2019 World Cleanup Day was held on the third Saturday of September and coincided with Peace Day and the Global climate strike of September 2019.

Global cleanup efforts have existed in many forms throughout human history, especially after widespread catastrophes such as earthquakes, floods, and powerful tsunamis.[2]

In modern history, these efforts are typically undertaken by the affected communities, with support from various international organizations and NGOs, such as Red Cross, Oxfam, and other relief organizations but typically in post-conflict zones. They have included efforts to remove land mines, beach cleanup, and other municipal and non-governmental actions.

Participants

Participants in World Cleanup Days are typically volunteers, with coordination from non-governmental organizations who assist in awareness-raising, logistics, and fundraising.

List of World Cleanup Days
  • Let's Do It 2008
  • World Cleanup Day 2018, 15 September 2018, with 18 million people across 157 countries.[3] Over 88500 tons of waste was collected.[4]
  • World Cleanup Day 2019, 21 September 2019, with 21 million people across 180 countries.[3] Over 100000 tons of waste was collected.[5]
  • World Cleanup Day 2020, 19 September 2020
  • World Cleanup Day 2021, 18 September 2021

See also

References
  1. "'Communities will be united': Groups around Ireland to take part in World Cleanup Day". The Journal. 2018-09-09.
  2. "After the 2004 tsunami: rebuilding lives, salvaging communities". The Guardian. 2009-12-23.
  3. "Our Story". Worldcleanupday.org. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  4. "World Cleanup Day 2018 Waste Report" (PDF). Worldcleanupday.org. 2019-01-01. Retrieved 2019-10-01.
  5. "Annual Report 2019 (page 44)" (PDF). Worldcleanupday.org. January 2020. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
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