The 16th of September is World Cleanup Day! On this day each year, volunteers come together to pick up trash from our planet. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), at least 14 million tons of plastic enter the ocean each year. A substantial amount of this plastic debris stems from littering, meaning we can prevent it.
What is World Cleanup Day?
World Cleanup Day is a global movement to tackle the waste problem and clean up the environment by picking up litter. On this day, volunteers, organizations, and participants unite at cleanup events around the world, focusing on collecting trash. Some individuals might even pick up litter on their own.
On September 16th, 2008, 50,000 people gathered in Estonia to clean up the whole country in just five hours. This action inspired people around the world to do the same. Interest sparked around the “one country, one day” formula. Since its start, over 70 million volunteers have participated in World Cleanup Day across 191 countries.
Importance of Cleanups
Cleaning up trash around your community is one of the easiest ways to help the environment. Regardless of whether you’re with a cleanup group or alone, every piece of litter removed is a step towards a healthier planet. When garbage is left on the ground, it can release harmful chemicals into the air, soil, and water, negatively impacting our food supply and wildlife.
Participating in cleanups helps protect the lives of animals who are vulnerable to the litter invading their natural habitats. Birds, marine life, and other animals often mistake litter for food, which ultimately ends up poisoning them. A sad but true realization, one million animals die each year after ingesting or becoming trapped in improperly disposed trash.
Cleanups not only support the environment, but they also have some personal benefits. Group cleanups create a sense of community pride, showing initiative and caring for the one place we can all call home. You can become surrounded with likeminded people and make new friends who also care about the environment. Additionally, getting outside is a great way to destress, get some movement in, and enjoy the beauty of nature.
Let’s Do it World (LDIW), the organizer of World Cleanup Day, encourages everyone to organize or join a cleanup group in your area. Once the event is registered, LDIW provides a toolbox, safety guidelines, and even marketing materials to promote the event.
Engineering and the Environment
Engineering plays a major role in saving our planet. Engineers will bring us innovations in energy, food production, water distribution, and waste management. Let’s Use World Cleanup Day as an opportunity to learn more about environmental engineering solutions.
Are you looking for inspiration to get your students excited about how engineering can help clean up our planet? Check out this article that features a water cleanup solution designed by a high-school student. Also, you can check this lesson plan where students can learn how to recycle paper. If students want to learn more on what it takes to be an environmental engineer, they can check out this career pathway.