HANGZHOU, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The global observance of World Cleanup Day 2026 will be held in Shaoxing City, east China's Zhejiang Province, marking the first time China has been chosen to host the event.
Cecilia Andersson, Programme Management Officer and Waste Management Lead at UN-Habitat, announced at a press conference in Shaoxing on Thursday that the event, themed "From Clean Plates to Clean Cities," will run from Sept. 19 to 21.
Andersson noted that preventing and reducing waste at the source contributes to building cleaner, healthier and more resource-efficient cities.
"Hosting the event allows us to learn from practices worldwide, while driving cities toward high-quality development and creating better living spaces for people," said Wang Shengjun, chief economist at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development.
Wang said the goals and principles of World Cleanup Day closely align with China's efforts to build modern, people-centered cities.
The host city Shaoxing, an early practitioner of the nationwide "Clean Your Plate" campaign, has been actively promoting grassroots green initiatives, including household waste sorting and citywide cleanup drives.
In 2021, for example, the city rolled out an action plan to curb food waste, mobilizing all sectors to make Shaoxing a model of thrift and foster a culture of conservation.
The global event comes as China steps up its nationwide efforts in waste management and environmental cleanup. Earlier in January, China released an action plan to significantly expand its solid waste treatment capacity over the next five years, as part of broader efforts to advance a comprehensive green transition across the economy and society.
Meanwhile, China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) outlines initiatives for comprehensive solid waste treatment, stronger environmental risk controls, and significant progress in addressing emerging pollutants.
Established by the United Nations General Assembly in 2023, World Cleanup Day is observed annually on Sept. 20. It aims to raise public awareness of the role cleanup efforts play in sustainable development.
Previous editions have addressed a wide range of global environmental issues, from the challenges of waste pollution in polar regions to efforts targeting textile and fashion waste. ■
