On Friday morning, around 400 Brussels residents participated in a large-scale cleanup of the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal, marking their contribution to

World Cleanup Day. This global event sees volunteers in 30 countries come together for similar initiatives. Over the weekend, additional cleanup efforts will be held in cities across Belgium, including Antwerp, Liège, Ghent, Namur, and Temse.

World Cleanup Day actions are spearheaded by River Cleanup, a global network committed to cleaning up rivers. "This day remains critically important," stated the organization. "Despite numerous efforts, pollution continues to rise, with an estimated 10 million kilos of plastic ending up in nature and rivers daily."

In Belgium, the event kicked off Friday morning in Brussels, where about 400 volunteers – including schoolchildren, local employees, and residents – joined forces to clean up the Brussels–Scheldt Maritime Canal. Alongside efforts on the quay and nearby streets, canoes were used to collect waste directly from the water.

The event is part of a larger movement. Throughout the weekend, River Cleanup aims to mobilize over 1,000 volunteers to participate in major cleanups across Belgium and smaller, local actions. The organization's cleanup efforts extend to 30 countries worldwide.

"Through these initiatives, we aim to raise awareness about the impact individuals can have," said Thomas De Groote, founder of River Cleanup. "Reducing the use of disposable plastics is the most effective way to protect nature and safeguard our health." Photo by Varech, Wikimedia commons.