River Cleanup Aims to Mobilize More Than 5,000 Belgian People During World Cleanup Day on Saturday 18 September

Ghent, 10 September 2021 – On the third weekend of September World Cleanup Day is to take place again as usual. During the largest worldwide cleanup campaign of the year, litter will be cleaned up by millions of people in more than 150 countries. In Belgium Saturday 18 September is high on the agenda as well. Just like last year, River Cleanup, Eneco Clean Beach Cup, World Cleanup Day Belgium, Mooimakers and Be WaPP/Wallonie Plus Propre are joining forces to mobilize as many volunteers as possible for this initiative. The consequences of the recent deadly floods make these actions even more crucial than before.

River Cleanup, founded in 2017 by Thomas de Groote, puts volunteers to work in the cities around waterways. Each year, about 8 million tonnes of plastic waste end up in our seas and oceans and most of it is carried there by rivers. In addition, the severe floods in July have caused even more waste and debris to enter our rivers. It is estimated that about 1.5 million tonnes have ended up in our waterways. Campaigns in cities around waterways are therefore absolutely essential.

Big and Small Campaigns

On Saturday 18 September River Cleanup, together with local partners and action groups, is organizing major actions in Ghent, Antwerp, Leuven and Dendermonde, on Saturday 25 September in Namur and on 26 September in Pepinster. In Ghent some cleaning will also be organized on the water itself, using kayaks, and afterwards there will be an open-air celebration with Paradise City and Bar Bricolage. In addition, MNM radio will be broadcasting live from the Houtdok in Ghent all day long.

In collaboration with Facilicom Group, River Cleanup will on 17 and 18 September also clean up the Albertkanaal at various locations along the canal.

The organization further aims to encourage volunteers to set up their own campaign at a nearby river or waterway via river-cleanup.org. This way you can easily contribute with your family, friends, colleagues or anyone else. River Cleanup is targeting 100 locations in Belgium and hopes to mobilize more than 5,000 Belgians.

Finally, River Cleanup also launched more than 20 campaigns in response to the floods. Every Tuesday or Thursday until the end of October you can take a bus from Antwerp or Leuven to lend a hand in the affected areas. Further information and registration via https://www.river-cleanup.org/en/river-solidarity

Cleanup in Gent

Cleanup Vaart Leuven

Practical

Contact

River Cleanup
​Thomas de Groote
​[email protected] ​ ​ ​
​+32 (0)478 44 46 10

MMBSY (for press and media enquiries)
​Margo Van Raemdonck
​[email protected]
​+32 (0)479 92 32 53