Final participation numbers confirm that World Cleanup Day 2024 brought together people from 191 countries and territories — representing 90% of UN member states — in a united effort to tackle the waste crisis. In its first year as an official United Nations International Day, millions united worldwide as part of Let’s Do It World’s movement, proving once again that while waste may be a global issue, the solution lies in each and every one of us taking action locally.
This year’s World Cleanup Day captured a spirit of resilience and determination that resonated across borders. In Ukraine, over 400,000 participants rallied amidst a war-torn backdrop to show the world that environmental health cannot wait for peace. “The environment knows no borders; the damage to ecosystems in one country impacts the entire planet. Ecosystems are our life — our health, food, air, and water. Together, we must foster a culture of cleanliness to restore our planet’s ecosystems,” said Julia Markhel, President of Let's Do It Ukraine.
Participation numbers from the Let’s Do It World network reveal the movement’s reach and diversity. Let’s Do It Germany rallied over 631,000 people, while the USA saw over 2 million take part. In Cambodia, the cleanups were organised in collaboration with seven ministries, with all 24 provinces engaged in local actions and a record number of participants. Cambodia’s Let’s Do It World network leader, Sovann Nou, observed the impact of their efforts: “Now, when I look around in Cambodia, I see rivers that are truly rivers again, and parks with real green grass — no plastic bottles, no bags — just sparkling clean. It's truly incredible to witness the strength of this network, which has grown through tireless effort from Let’s Do It World country leaders.”
World Cleanup Day 2024 also underscored the power of local initiatives to drive lasting change. In Guinea, municipality-supported cleanups led by Let’s Do It Guinea and local youth groups coincided with the announcement of a national ban on single-use plastics. Their World Cleanup Day efforts also inspired commitments for regular community cleanups, environmental education programmes, and the creation of a community association for local environmental protection.
In Mexico, the local Let’s Do It team’s focus on removing even the smallest pollutants proved how targeted efforts can yield significant results. Volunteers collected an astounding 14.3 million cigarette butts, preserving over 700 million litres of water from contamination.
“These local actions are the building blocks of global change,” said Heidi Solba, President and Head of Global Network for Let’s Do It World. “Tackling the complex issue of mismanaged waste, World Cleanup Day builds a bridge for collaboration across sectors, inspiring societies to seek solutions, take responsibility, and empower civic action.”
Estonian embassies worldwide joined the effort, celebrating the movement’s origins in Estonia, where the Let’s Do It World movement was born in 2008. From Italy to India, and from China to the Czech Republic, Estonian diplomatic missions in over 15 countries partnered with local communities in cleanups.
Back in Estonia, almost 63,000 people—4.6% of the population—took part in the country’s largest cleanup to date. "Each year, more people participate in cleanup efforts, showing growing environmental awareness. Schools and kindergartens are the main participants, thanks to the educators inspiring young minds to care for nature,” said Elike Saviorg, the leader of Let’s Do It Estonia. “While World Cleanup Day removes large quantities of waste, the real impact lies in witnessing the scale of the problem and collectively taking meaningful action. By fostering awareness from a young age, we hope one day cleanups will no longer be needed.”
As Let’s Do It World looks to the future, World Cleanup Day remains a key driver of its mission to create a waste-free world. “This movement is about more than collecting waste; it’s about changing mindsets and systems,” said Anett Linno, CEO of Let’s Do It World. “Improved waste management, reduced consumption, and global collaboration are essential if we’re to see sustained impact. We call on individuals, governments, businesses and organisations everywhere to join us in building lasting change.”
With support from UN-Habitat and recent recognition as a UN-Habitat Competence partner, Let’s Do It World is set to continue advancing sustainable waste management and environmental education worldwide. For the millions who joined World Cleanup Day in 2024, the commitment to a cleaner, healthier planet is something that will stay with them far beyond a single day.
***
Let’s Do It World NGO is an accredited observer of the UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). In July 2023, the UN Sustainable Development Goals Group acknowledged Let’s Do It World with its Mobilisation Award for organising World Cleanup Day. In 2023, the United Nations added Let's Do It World's flagship annual event World Cleanup Day to the UN Calendar of International Days and Weeks.
For more information, contact:
Anett Linno
CEO, Let’s Do It World NGO
anett.linno@ldiw.org
+372 5669 2076
.svg){kind=logo}