WILLEMSTAD – Curaçao Clean Up is inviting residents, schools, businesses, organizations and dive schools across the island to participate in World Cleanup Day 2026 and become part of the growing Green Wave movement. This year’s nationwide cleanup will take place on Friday, September 18 and Saturday, September 19.
For the 14th consecutive year, Curaçao Clean Up will organize the island’s participation in World Cleanup Day, a global initiative bringing together people in approximately 190 countries to combat litter and waste.
Cleanup activities on Curaçao will take place from 6:00 a.m. until 10:00 a.m. on both days, with volunteers working at locations on land as well as underwater.
World Cleanup Day will serve as the main campaign activity of Green Wave, a movement created to encourage Curaçao residents and organizations to translate their pride and love for the island into concrete environmental action.
According to Curaçao Clean Up, the initiative goes beyond simply collecting waste. The organization wants to promote environmental awareness, education and long-term behavioral change while encouraging individuals and organizations to take greater responsibility for their surroundings.
Last year's cleanup attracted 2,913 volunteers who worked at 120 cleanup locations across Curaçao. Nineteen of those locations involved underwater cleanup operations. Together, participants collected and removed 38,678 kilograms of waste.
Curaçao Clean Up says the success and sense of national pride generated by the Blue Wave helped inspire the creation of Green Wave. The environmental movement seeks to channel similar positive energy toward protecting Curaçao's natural and living environment.
Several Curaçao companies have already joined Green Wave, and the organization is now encouraging more businesses, schools, organizations, dive schools and community groups to participate.
For businesses, World Cleanup Day can also serve as a team-building activity, while schools and other organizations can use the event to encourage environmental responsibility among students, employees and volunteers.
Participants can organize cleanups at beaches, neighborhoods, parks, around schools or businesses, or take part in underwater cleanup activities.
Registration opened on August 19 and will remain available through September 10, 2026. Participants can register through the Curaçao Clean Up website by selecting World Cleanup Day Curaçao 2026. Registration is also possible through the QR code provided in the campaign materials.
Curaçao Clean Up is encouraging participants to register early and is calling on the community to turn national pride into national responsibility.
“Whether you clean a beach, neighborhood, park, the surroundings of your company or school, or participate in an underwater cleanup, every action contributes to a cleaner Curaçao,” the organization said.