Last year, Clean Up the Cooks Day resulted in a waste haul of 750.8 kilograms – the majority being general waste and scrap metal.

This year, the National Environment Service (NES) are again calling on volunteers around the Cooks to be part of the annual World Clean-up Day or Clean Up the Cooks Day – tomorrow.

Previously, 191 countries, including 60 million volunteers have taken part in the effort and up to 303,000 tonnes of waste was collected.

NES staff will be leading this year’s Clean Up the Cooks activity in the community, schools,   public and private sectors on Rarotonga and across the Pa Enua.

Reusable sacks have been donated by Cook Islands Trading Corporation and Prime Foods, which will be distributed by NES.

Infrastructure Cook Islands is also lending continuous support with a landfill fee waiver.

The theme for this year is Let’s do it world, which is about cleaning up our oceans, and for a cleaner and healthier waste free environment.

“We tackle the environmental challenges related to the mismanagement of waste by involving our community for a cleaner greener Cook Islands,” NES said in a statement.

In 2019 prior to the borders closing due to the Covid-19 pandemic, close to 900 kilograms of waste was collected.

In 2020 and 2021, the amount of waste collected decreased, but with the economy booming again last year, the amount of waste increased.

Join millions around the globe in efforts to keep our world clean and register now with NES for Clean up the Cooks on Friday.

Registrations close today so sign up and make a difference in keeping our paradise, clean and green. NES