Global Observance of World Cleanup Day opens in China for first time

(ECNS) -- The Global Observance of World Cleanup Day 2026 opened on Sunday in Shaoxing, east China’s Zhejiang Province, marking the first time the event has been held in China. 

Based on a theme of “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities,” this event is jointly organized by China’s Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) and the Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government.

Around 800 representatives from government bodies, cities, international organizations, academia and the business community attended the event, which also features exhibitions, forums and field visits. 

The United Nations General Assembly designated Sept. 20 as World Cleanup Day in 2023, to be observed annually to raise awareness of the role cleanup efforts play in advancing sustainable development.

(By Helen Mo & intern Yang Hongran)