Litter doesn't disappear. It just changes address.
A gust of wind carries it down the street.
Rain washes it into a drain.
A stream carries it to a river.
What begins as one careless moment can travel through neighborhoods, pollute our rivers and impact wildlife along the way.
That's why River Cleanup starts upstream.
By stopping litter before it travels any further, we protect rivers and create cleaner places for everyone.
Rivers Connect Us All
Rivers connect our cities, towns and communities. They also carry litter.
Once waste enters a waterway, it can travel kilometers downstream, affecting places far beyond where it was originally dropped. That's why every cleanup matters.
Every bottle removed.
Every wrapper collected.
Every bag filled.
Each one is one less piece of litter continuing its journey.
More Than a Cleanup
Every cleanup removes litter.
It also changes minds.
When people see others taking action, they're more likely to do the same. That's how local cleanups become a global movement.
World Cleanup Day
On 20 September, millions of people around the world will take part in World Cleanup Day, one of the largest civic actions for the environment.
Whether you join an official cleanup or organize your own, every action helps create cleaner rivers and stronger communities.
This year's theme says it best:
Not My Trash. Still My Planet.
We may not be responsible for every piece of litter, but we can all decide what happens next.
Make Sure the Journey Ends Here
Every piece of litter has a journey.
World Cleanup Day is your chance to stop it.