World Cleanup Day: Tackling Plastic Pollution for People, Planet, and Future Generations
The scale and impact of global plastic pollution is almost impossible to visualise.
Since the 1950s, humanity has produced over 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic, with 7 billion tonnes now sitting as waste. Today, the world generates 430 million tonnes of plastic every year—two-thirds of it made into short-lived products that quickly become rubbish. Much of this ends up in oceans, soils, and even in the human food chain.
Each year, around 11 million tonnes of plastic leak into rivers, lakes, and seas, while only 10% of plastic is recycled globally.
Plastic is not just a waste problem—it’s also a climate problem. Its production depends heavily on fossil fuels, which are responsible for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions in 2020. Disposal methods like landfills, incineration, and open burning (common in developing countries) release further climate-warming gases, including methane, which is many times more harmful than CO₂.
But there’s good news: tackling plastic waste offers not only environmental benefits but also economic gains. Plastic pollution costs the world an estimated $300–600 million annually. Yet, every dollar invested in restoring degraded landscapes can generate up to 30 dollars in returns. Far from being an expense, cleanup and prevention are an investment in healthier societies and a thriving planet.
Plastic waste also impacts soil fertility, food production, and ecosystem stability—threats that grow with time.
Kenya has taken important steps, banning single-use plastic bags in 2017 and extending this ban to protected natural areas in 2020. Still, challenges remain: 20–30% of Kenya’s daily waste is plastic, but only 8% gets recycled.
World Clean Up Day, celebrated annually on September 20th, promotes the cleanup of plastic and other waste to restore environments and reduce climate impacts. Millions of volunteers across the world participate in cleanup efforts in their communities.
Our team in Kenya leads in active and regular efforts to collect rubbish, and either repurpose materials for use in agriculture, e.g. drip feed irrigation systems made from plastic bottles, or dispose of them correctly. Crucially, the focus is on getting community members of all ages involved in efforts, helping to inspire the next generation of environmental activists.
How You Can Support
Donate to support conservation-focused education and training
Download the Haller Farmers App and share it with your community
Visit Nguuni and witness our integrated agroforestry and ecosystem restoration efforts (and share your visit!
Partner with us to expand this work to new regions and audiences
