World Cleanup Day 2024. Make Room for Life!

This year marks the first time WCD appears on the international calendar observed by the United Nations (UN). We celebrate World Cleanup Day annually on the third Saturday of September.

‘Let’s Do It World’, a non-governmental organization and accredited member of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA), was recognized by the UN in July 2023 for its mobilization award for organizing World Cleanup Day. In December 2023, the UN announced its unanimous ratification of the resolution and declared September 20th as World Cleanup Day. It contributes to the importance of the cause, where people worldwide are becoming more aware of the waste issue and the organization’s vision. 
This year’s observance also has a theme tied to the day: ‘Make Room for Life!’

The Department of Nature and Environment (DNM) reflects on this topic and deduces that good waste management requires joint action from everyone to keep Aruba clean and livable. World Cleanup Day is one of the ways to inspire lasting social change in people’s attitudes toward general waste management. Every year, humanity generates billions of tons of solid waste. Without action, global waste will increase by 70% from current levels by 2050. Additionally, more than 3.5 billion people lack access to efficient waste management systems, and much of this waste is incinerated or ends up in nature, the oceans, and rivers worldwide.

The outcome of World Cleanup Day 2023 showed three essential global trends: increased participation from youth and students, governments, and the large quantity of waste collected -218,704 tons. Our environment faces pollution from waste materials, which threatens life on Earth daily. This year’s theme is to eliminate waste to make space for life. People’s consumption habits and waste behavior must change.

If you’re interested in participating in World Cleanup Day, here are a few things you can do:

• Decide to change your consumption patterns and reduce the waste you generate. How can you do this? Refuse single-use plastics and incorporate the 5 R’s when considering or purchasing a product. The 5 R’s are: ‘rethink, refuse, reduce, reuse, and recycle’ products. Consider recycling clean organic products, such as making your compost from vegetable, fruit, and leaf scraps, etc.
• Organize your cleanup event. Form a group of friends and family, choose an area, and clean it up. Do not cut plants, gather trash, sort, and dispose of it at the assigned location.
• Become a volunteer at a beach or neighborhood cleanup. Many organizations, such as Turtugaruba, Scubblebubbles, and Plastic Beach Party, promote a clean environment.

By participating in World Cleanup Day, you help raise awareness of this crucial issue and make a difference in your community, nature, and the environment.  

DNM is calling on the community to take a photo or video of your family or group of friends contributing to the cleanup cause and share it on social media, including the hashtags #worldcleanupday #worldcleanupday2024 #wastefreeworld #letsdoitworld.