A collective drive to protect the environment
Published by INFOGreen.lu and translated from French:
More than 50 volunteers took part in a major clean-up in Hollerich, collecting 126 kg of waste and 14,000 cigarette butts. This action illustrates the importance of volunteering to preserve the environment and raise awareness of littering.
The association Serve the City organized a community clean-up as part of World Clean-up Day. More than 50 enthusiastic volunteers gathered in Hollerich to collect the waste that pollutes urban spaces. In just over an hour, the results were impressive: 126 kg of waste collected, including 50 kg of recyclable materials and 14,000 cigarette butts.
Nicolas Duprey, director of Serve the City , is as satisfied as he is challenged by this collection: “It’s an impressive figure. We were divided into several teams, and what we collected, particularly in the city’s entry areas, is simply astounding.” This action only lasted one hour of cleaning, illustrating the impact that a few hours of volunteering can have on the environment.
Alarming amounts of waste: a global problem
According to Nicolas Duprey, Serve the City Director, the problem of urban waste is far from being anecdotal. Even if Luxembourg seems clean at first glance, much remains to be done.
“On average, each person produces 1.6 kg of litter per year, and busy areas, such as city entrances, are particularly affected. Litter accumulates there, particularly cigarette butts, which are one of the biggest scourges today.”
The number of cigarette butts collected on this single day is striking: 14,000, a figure which is alarming when you consider that a cigarette butt can pollute up to 500 litres of water and takes 15 years to decompose in nature.
“About 75% of cigarette butts end up in nature and many people don’t realize that these small pieces of plastic waste have devastating effects, not only on the local ecosystem, but also thousands of kilometers away. Cigarette butts follow waterways, pollute the oceans and cause the death of many marine species.”
Raising awareness and involving young people
A key success of these clean-up actions is to raise awareness among the general public, especially young people, of the environmental impact of waste. Nicolas Duprey has observed a real enthusiasm for environmental projects among the younger generation. “Young people are particularly sensitive to these issues. They often initiate projects, and these events enable them to become aware of the extent of the damage and take concrete action.”
The association, which now has almost 1,700 volunteers, regularly carries out awareness-raising actions in partnership with shopping centers or public events. In addition to clean-up operations, they propose actions such as the “Trash Art Challenge”, where waste is transformed into works of art to raise awareness of its ecological impact.
Positive results and future projects
This mobilization doesn’t stop for one day. Serve the City is planning other actions, notably during European Waste Reduction Week, from November 16 to 22. Last year they created a gigantic fish made of 50,000 cigarette butts, symbolizing their impact on the oceans. “If we don’t act, by the end of the decade there will be more cigarette butts in the oceans than fish,” warns Nicolas Duprey.
The association’s strength lies in its ability to mobilize a large number of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. At the latest event, participants from the USA, Asia, Latin America and Luxembourg all contributed to this collective effort. “It’s wonderful to see people of different ages and nationalities coming together for a common cause. These moments create strong bonds while working for a cleaner environment.”
The strength of the collective for a sustainable future
Nicolas Duprey ends on a hopeful note, emphasizing that every little bit counts. He invites anyone interested to join their actions via the website, stressing that everyone can contribute in their own way, even with little time available.
“It’s essential to show that we’re all part of the solution. With everyone’s commitment, we can make a real difference to the future of our planet. Volunteering is accessible to everyone. We all have a few hours to devote to protecting our environment. And together, we can make a significant impact.”
Original version published on Ocober 1st 2024: https://www.infogreen.lu/un-elan-collectif-pour-proteger-l-environnement.html / Credit: Sébastien Yernaux
