As part of UNESCO’s commitment to environmental sustainability, over 30 staff members mobilised by the Regional Office for Southern Africa’s (ROSA’s) Green Plan Committee joined the world in commemorating the 2022 World Clean-Up Day held on September 16, 2022. The day is meant to combat the global solid waste problem.
This day is important as it does not only allow colleagues to clean up their spaces but rather allows them to be part of a bigger initiative of creating a waste-free world. In a world where mental health has become one of the major concerns, today gave the staff an opportunity to socialize outside an office setting, which contributes towards good mental health.
A total of 89 kilograms of separated waste that included paper, plastic, food, bottles, cans and other waste was collected during the clean-up campaign. Collected waste will be disposed through the UNESCO ROSA waste management system, which was set up in 2022 to ensure all office waste is separated at source and sent for recycling.
UNESCO ROSA is working with the Zimbabwe Sunshine Group, an initiative of local youth that is providing employment to young people, to collect separated waste bi-monthly. The organization ensures all collected waste is used for recycling purposes at their waste plant.
World Clean-up Day is a social action programme that unites millions of volunteers, governments, and organizations in 191 countries to tackle the global waste problem and build a sustainable world held over the course of a 24-hour period, on the 3rd Saturday of September annually.
Clean-up activities are key in raising awareness of the global waste problem, a threat to the health and social being of members of society. By encouraging all citizens of the world to take part in clean-up efforts, a cleaner and safer planet is created. Play your part by keeping the environment clean all the time.
