World Cleanup Day 2026: From Clean Plates to Clean Cities
Every day, more than one billion meals are wasted worldwide, even as millions of people face hunger. Food waste strains waste-management systems, contributes to climate change, squanders land and water resources, and undermines efforts to build more resilient and equitable food systems.
20 September is World Cleanup Day. This year's global observance focuses on food waste, one of the largest and most preventable waste streams affecting cities and communities worldwide.
Under the official theme “From Clean Plates to Clean Cities”, World Cleanup Day 2026 connects the choices we make around our plates with the systems that shape our neighborhoods and cities. It calls for action to prevent food waste, keep edible food in use, recover unavoidable organic materials, and build cleaner, more circular and resource-efficient cities.
According to the , approximately 1.05 billion metric tons of food were wasted at household, food-service and retail levels in 2022 — about 19 percent of the food available to consumers.
This waste exists alongside persistent hunger and food insecurity. According to the latest , approximately 673 million people experienced hunger in 2024, while about 2.3 billion people faced moderate or severe food insecurity.
Food loss and waste also carry significant environmental and economic costs. estimates that food loss and waste generate up to 10 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions and cost the global economy about US$1 trillion each year.
Preventing food waste is about much more than keeping food out of the trash. It means valuing the land, water, energy, labor and other resources used to produce food — and building food and waste systems that work better for people and the planet.
Progress is possible
Food waste is a major global challenge, but substantial reductions are possible. Progress depends on reliable measurement, clear targets, supportive policies, strong partnerships and public engagement.
highlights countries that have significantly reduced food waste and underscores the importance of investment, measurement, policy and collaboration in accelerating progress toward 2030.
Preventing waste at the source, keeping edible food in use and recovering unavoidable organic materials are practical solutions that can be expanded across communities and cities.
Food waste and the Sustainable Development Goals
Reducing food loss and waste contributes to several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals.
It is particularly important to . Target 12.3 calls for halving per capita global food waste at retail and consumer levels by 2030 and reducing food losses along production and supply chains, including post-harvest losses.
Action on food waste can also help end hunger, build sustainable cities and communities, address climate change, conserve natural resources and strengthen food systems.
Global observance
The global observance of World Cleanup Day 2026 takes place on 20 September in Shaoxing, Zhejiang Province, China.
The observance provides a platform for international dialogue, knowledge-sharing and partnerships that support the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda, while advancing more resource-efficient, resilient and inclusive cities.
Get involved
World Cleanup Day provides an opportunity for people everywhere to turn awareness into action.
Governments, United Nations entities, cities, schools, businesses, civil society organizations, community groups, academic institutions and individuals can organize activities addressing food waste and other local waste challenges while contributing to wider global efforts.
UN-Habitat invites Member States, organizations and other stakeholders — including civil society, the private sector and academia — to . Selected submissions may be featured on the World Cleanup Day website.
Join the conversation using #WorldCleanupDay and #CleanPlateCleanCity.
Background
On 8 December 2023, the United Nations General Assembly, in its seventy-eighth session, unanimously adopted , proclaiming 20 September as World Cleanup Day, to be observed annually.
The resolution invites Member States, organizations of the United Nations system, other international and regional organizations and other relevant stakeholders — including civil society, the private sector and academia — to observe World Cleanup Day through activities that raise awareness of the contribution of cleanup efforts to sustainable development. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) facilitates the observance of the Day.
National and local governments, organizations and communities around the world have long undertaken cleanup activities. World Cleanup Day recognizes these efforts and highlights our shared responsibility to maintain a clean and healthy environment and manage waste and resources more sustainably.
Did you know?
- About 1.05 billion metric tons of food were wasted in 2022 — 19 percent of food available to consumers. ()
- 60 percent of consumer food waste comes from households. ()
- Households waste more than one billion meals every day. ()
- About 13 percent of food is lost after harvest and before retail. ()
- Food loss and waste generate 8–10 percent of global greenhouse-gas emissions. ()
- Food waste accounts for up to 14 percent of global methane emissions. ()
- About 673 million people experienced hunger in 2024. ()
Resources
Documents
Food loss and food waste
Cities and urban action
Climate, circularity and zero waste
UN System
Related observances
- International Day of Zero Waste (30 March)
- World Environment Day (5 June)
- International Day of Awareness of Food Loss and Waste (29 September)
- World Habitat Day (first Monday of October)
- World Cities Day (31 October)
- World Toilet Day (19 November)
