Volunteers unite for largest Earth Day cleanup in Penang

In a monumental effort to combat plastic pollution and preserve the natural beauty of Penang Island, a coalition of organizations spearheaded by EARTHDAY.ORG is gearing up for the largest cleanup event in Earth Day history. Partnering with The Malaysian Humanitarian Foundation, Penang Island City Council, and World Clean Up Day Malaysia, this initiative aims to bring together 100,000 volunteers to tackle the island’s plastic waste crisis.

The cleanup, scheduled from April 21 to April 22, will target the island’s beaches and forests, which have been heavily impacted by plastic pollution due to the booming tourism industry. Once the cleanup is completed, volunteers will embark on a tree-planting mission, aiming to sow over one million trees across the island.

Melissa Tan, acclaimed TV host, zero waste advocate, and EARTHDAY.ORG Ambassador, emphasized the urgency of addressing the plastic crisis. “Plastic pollution is literally in our biological systems, in our bodies, in our lungs. There is no time for half measures, and we all need to step up,” said Tan, who will also be participating in the Youth Impact sessions during the event.

Sustainable Solutions

The significance of this cleanup extends beyond its immediate impact on Penang Island. The 2024 Asian Environmental Summit will host Youth Impact events, where discussions on ending plastic pollution and preventing microplastics from infiltrating the environment will take place.

Michael Karapetian, The Great Global Cleanup Coordinator at EARTHDAY.ORG, stressed the importance of implementing long-term solutions to curb plastic pollution. “Our collaboration with The Malaysian Humanitarian Foundation is not just about removing plastic trash from the environment. We need to implement long-term solutions to stop plastics from ending up in the environment in the first place,” Karapetian stated.

Henry Kok-Kheng Teh, Co-Founder of The Malaysian Humanitarian Foundation, expressed enthusiasm for the event, aiming to mobilize 5% of the Malaysian population to participate and drive lasting change across Penang Island and the country.

Vision for Change

The cleanup also underscores the organizations’ support for the UN Global Plastic Treaty, INC-4, which is being negotiated during Earth Week in Ottawa, Canada. EARTHDAY.ORG’s 2024 theme, “PLANET VS PLASTICS,” calls for a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040, uniting individuals, NGOs, businesses, and governments in a collective effort for human and planetary health.

“We predict that the vast majority of the trash we clean-up will be plastics. It is plastics that are wrecking our environment, harming our wildlife, and impacting human health,” remarked Kathleen Rogers, President of EARTHDAY.ORG.