What You Can Do This Cleanup and Recycle Week to Make a Difference
Introduction
Cleanup and Recycle SA Week takes place from 15 to 20 September 2025, culminating in International Coastal Clean-up Day and World Cleanup Day on 20 September 2025. This annual initiative brings together South Africans from all walks of life to clean up, reduce, reuse, recycle, and educate, connecting local efforts to a worldwide movement. We cannot ignore the threat posed by waste and pollution to our communities, rivers, oceans, and ecosystems; that’s why proactive action is necessary.
The Global Context: World Cleanup Day
World Cleanup Day, recognised by the United Nations, falls on 20 September each year and mobilises millions of volunteers across more than 200 countries. In 2025, the focus extends beyond traditional litter, highlighting the urgent problem of textile and fashion waste. The fashion industry discards a truckload of clothing every second, introducing new hazards to ecosystems and urban areas. By engaging in local campaigns, South Africans stand alongside a global community, sharing solutions, building connections, and restoring environments through collective effort.
Why Your Participation Matters
Individual actions deliver far-reaching benefits to society:
- Cleaner neighbourhoods keep pollution out of rivers and the ocean, protecting wildlife and raising the quality of life.
- Community clean-ups shape public standards, encouraging environmental stewardship and pride.
- Grassroots efforts can spark policy changes in waste management, recycling, and urban planning.
- By participating, you advance the circular economy, reduce demand for raw materials, and promote South Africa’s Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) goals for a sustainable future.
How to Get Involved This Year
Whether you are an individual, business, or community leader, there are many ways to contribute during Cleanup and Recycle Week:
- Join a Clean-up Event Near You
- Find local events: Search platforms such as worldcleanupday.org or cleanupandrecycle.co.za. Your municipality, school, club, or residents’ associations may also offer information.
- Register your own initiative: If no events exist nearby, consider starting one. This process may include:
- Identifying nearby spaces in need of attention (parks, streets, riversides).
- Gathering volunteers, including local schools and businesses.
- Securing permits from authorities if necessary.
- Sharing information about your event on social media and WhatsApp groups.
- Arranging supplies, such as trash bags and gloves, and ensuring proper disposal.
- eWASA support: eWASA will support selected clean-up and recycling drives during this week.
- Start at Home or Work
- Sort and separate recyclables: Set up bins and educate everyone on the difference between glass, paper, plastic, cans, and general waste.
- Launch a recycling drive: Partner with local recyclers and promote collection of materials that might otherwise end up in landfill.
- Mobilise your network: Encourage friends, family, schools, and local businesses to participate, magnifying your impact throughout the community.
- Focus on Textile and Fashion Waste
This year’s international focus highlights the growing issue of textile waste. Challenge yourself and others to:
- Collect old clothing for donation to charities or recycling programmes.
- Host or join clothing swap events to promote reuse and circular fashion.
- Spread information about buying durable, sustainable clothing as opposed to fast fashion.
Tips for Maximum Impact
- Put safety first: Wear gloves, sturdy shoes, and carry appropriate bags. Avoid hazardous or sharp waste.
- Record your progress: Share before-and-after photos on social media to inspire others.
- Dispose thoughtfully: Separate waste for proper recycling or disposal. Consult local authorities for guidance when uncertain.
- Advocate and educate: Use this week to inform others about sustainable waste management and recycling practices.
Conclusion: Join the Movement, Be the Change
Every action counts. A single person’s effort may clean a street, but collective action transforms towns, rivers, and coastlines. South Africa’s participation in Cleanup and Recycle Week is about shifting our relationship with the environment, one community at a time.
Whether you join a big event or simply sort household recyclables, your efforts are valuable. Together, we build healthy communities and protect ecosystems for the future. Be the change and get involved this Cleanup and Recycle Week.
