National CleanUp Day was created by hiking enthusiasts Steve Jewett and Bill Willoughby in partnership with Clean Trails, a nonprofit that works to keep the outdoors clean. The unofficial holiday raises awareness about cleanliness and reducing litter.
Cleaning the Outdoors
The outdoors can bring a lot of joy and peace to those who enjoy hiking, walking, and climbing. Littering and trash, however, can not only ruin the experience, but it can also negatively affect the flora and fauna.
National CleanUp Day is an attempt to bring together those who love the outdoors and nature to help clean up trails, parks, beaches, and other natural communal spaces. The observance encourages people to make an effort to reduce littering and to recycle so that the nature around us remains clean and devoid of garbage.
Higher Quality of Life
The core philosophy of the observance is that our quality of life can be widely impacted by the nature around us—garbage and litter filled natural spaces can negatively impact an individual's well-being as well as the environment.
How to Celebrate?
- Get together with friends, family, and co-workers to organize a cleaning trip to the closest park, hiking trail, or beach.
- Raise awareness against littering and throwing garbage in communal spaces through social media and word of mouth.
- Join a local clean-up crew and help clean up your outdoors.
Did You Know…
…that almost 8 million tons of plastic end up in the oceans each year?
National CleanUp Day Observances
| Year | Weekday | Date | Name |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Sat | Sep 20 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2026 | Sat | Sep 19 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2027 | Sat | Sep 18 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2028 | Sat | Sep 16 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2029 | Sat | Sep 15 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2030 | Sat | Sep 21 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2031 | Sat | Sep 20 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2032 | Sat | Sep 18 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2033 | Sat | Sep 17 | National CleanUp Day |
| 2034 | Sat | Sep 16 | National CleanUp Day |