A cleanup or clean-up is a form of environmental volunteering where a group of people get together to pick-up and dispose of litter in a designated location.[1][2][3][4] Cleanups can take place on a street, in a neighborhood, at a park, on a water stream, or other public spaces.[5] Cleanup events are often volunteer run.[1] The cleanup volunteers make sure the waste picked-up is disposed of in its appropriate place.[5] Cleanup events are often community-centered and led.[6]
During the COVID-19 pandemic litter picking participation has greatly increased in the UK. [7] There are a vast range of reasons that people take part in litter picking activities. These include: clearing up unsightly areas; protecting wildlife; keeping people safe, connecting with nature, finding valuables, being part of a community, mental & physical health benefits and acting to protect the environment. [8]
Examples and initiatives
Stridy, a non-profit organisation headquartered in Singapore, is dedicated to promoting environmental cleanliness and tidiness by engaging citizens in community-driven initiatives. Founded with a mission to foster a sense of civic responsibility, Stridy encourages individuals to actively participate in maintaining a clean and litter-free environment. The organisation organises community clean-up events, educational programs, and awareness campaigns to inspire positive change in local neighbourhoods and beyond, fostering a global community of active citizens passionate about urban and beach clean-ups. Stridy has also developed a free-to-use app, empowering users to track their litter picking impact all around the world and allowing anyone to view global efforts from the Stridy data dashboard, contributing to a cleaner and more sustainable future through the power of community action. Since the beginning of 2022, a total of 100,000 litter items have been gathered from places like parks and residential areas in Singapore.[9]
↑Bruyere, B. and Rappe, S. (2007) Identifying the motivations of environmental volunteers. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 1, 50(4): 503-16.
