World Cleanliness Day (17/09)

Every year on the third Saturday of September, the environmental campaign «World Cleanup Day is held in many countries around the world, with the aim of uniting the efforts of the general public, the media, government and business structures to clean up areas of garbage and maintain sustainable cleanliness.

As part of this volunteer civil event, mass cleanup days and educational events are planned, in which everyone can take part. Moreover, the emphasis in cleaning is on natural areas (forests, clearings, banks of reservoirs), and when collecting garbage, separate waste collection is organized where possible. In addition, local organizers of the event conduct educational events, promote a modern waste management system, separate collection and recycling, an environmentally friendly lifestyle, reducing personal and public eco-trace and sustainable development.

For example, in different regions of Russia, teams have already been formed from representatives of NGOs, environmental and volunteer movements, as well as concerned residents who have involved government agencies, business partners in the action, and are recruiting participants.

Anyone can join the action – individually, by family, as well as by an organized group, for example, volunteers of an educational institution or company. Moreover, both with personal participation and to support the action with various resources.

This action traces its history back to the «Make!» movement (Let's Do it!), which originated in Estonia in 2008, when 50 thousand volunteers cleared the country from 10 thousand tons of garbage in 5 hours, which were sent for disposal and recycling. Monitoring carried out several years later showed that pollution in areas after mass cleaning decreased by 75%. The action became the impetus for the launch of a portal of raw material collection points, an information campaign to reduce bags and packaging, environmental educational events for children and adults, and a chain of stores where you can give things in good condition. The action inspired the population to implement eco-ideas and showed them that it is the residents of the country themselves who are responsible for how they will live.

This successful experiment has inspired other – countries since 2008. Similar events have taken place in 116 countries with the participation of 20 million people, who collected 560 thousand tons of waste. In 2018, the event was held on a single day for the first time in 158 countries and has since been held annually on the third Saturday of September.

In Russia, 85 thousand people in different regions of the country took part in the 2012 pilot campaign. Currently, more than 200 thousand Russians take part in it. Volunteer actions are taking place in 60 regions of the country, where public organizations, youth movements, members of the administration and local activists organize mass cleanups. For example, as a result of the 2020 campaign, 5.5 thousand cubic meters of mixed waste and 780 cubic meters were collected. recyclables (glass, metal, plastic).

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