The Great Global Cleanup
Safe and exciting ways to participate in National and World Cleanup Day this Saturday
September 18, 2020
For those of us in the cleanup movement — just as in other areas of our lives — the new normal of the COVID-19 pandemic has left us wondering how to move forward. Even though large-scale volunteer cleanup events have been postponed around the world, the growing pollution of our environment has not. We can’t afford to sit back and wait.
As this Saturday, September 19 marks another World Cleanup Day and National Cleanup Day, EARTHDAY.ORG is working with cleanup heroes, innovators and go-getters to spearhead new and effective cleanup strategies.
EARTHDAY.ORG is sharing our resources and technologies with volunteers around the world. Our interactive cleanup map now invites individuals and small groups, including families and employee teams, to register their cleanups and show the world their on-going commitment to a cleaner future.
Not sure where to start? Try plogging! Plogging is a combination of jogging and picking up trash developed by Erik Ahström in Sweden in 2016. Ahstrom began cleaning up his community after he became frustrated with the amount of litter he saw while riding his bike to work every day. Now, plogging has become an internationally recognized movement that can be done anywhere. Join the movement and register your plogs on our map.
Next, check out the relaunch of the Earth Challenge 2020 mobile application available for download on the Apple Store and Google Play. While you pick up trash, you can use the app to record the amount, type and location of waste collected. Data collected by citizen scientists (that’s you!) benefits researchers, communities and governments by mapping the extent, location and content of global waste that plagues our environment.
With support from EARTHDAY.ORG, World Cleanup Day has an ambitious goal to collect 1 billion cigarette butts in one weekend! Cigarette butts are the most common form of plastic pollution and are continuously spreading toxins into our global waterways. By collecting a billion butts, we will not only remove toxins from the environment, but also show the massive prevalence and impact of this tiny but deadly pollutant.
Under the umbrella of our Great Global CleanupTM program, EARTHDAY.ORG along with National Cleanup Day is activating networks of volunteers around the US to work together with Covid-Safe small group and individual cleanups. Together, EARTHDAY.ORG and National Cleanup day will continue to find creative and safe ways for groups, organizations and individuals to make a real impact through cleanup events.
Consistent with our cleanup efforts, our partner Keep America Beautiful is bringing their own innovative strategy to their second annual TrashDash on September 20th. This community plogging event will distribute a safety kit to all participants to ensure Covid-Safe pick up and assign groups to clean up either recyclable items or trash. Sign up your own fun and healthy TrashDash event and get your community cleaning!
This pandemic has not stopped the pollution of our environment — but fortunately it doesn’t have to stop us either. Cleanups are still possible and together we can make a real difference for our global environment. Keep on cleaning up our world.
