Ian Kiernan and Clean Up Initiatives

Ian Kiernan began organizing Clean Up Sydney Harbour in 1987.

More than 40,000 volunteers participated in the first Clean Up Sydney Harbour event.

Clean Up Australia Day has been celebrated every year since its inception.

In its first year, Clean Up the World had over 30 million participants from 80 countries.

E-waste constitutes 50 percent of all waste found in landfills.

Ian Kiernan launched Clean Up Mobile Phones to tackle electronic waste.

Kiernan believes that individuals, not companies, should be responsible for waste management.

The primary focus of Clean Up Australia Day is to reduce the number of snack food wrappers in public spaces.

Ian Kiernan and Clean Up Initiatives

Ian Kiernan, noticing excessive ocean garbage during a 1987 sailing race, initiated environmental action.
In 1989, he organized "Clean Up Sydney Harbour", attracting over 40,000 volunteers.
This success led to "Clean Up Australia Day" in 1990, involving an estimated 300,000 participants nationwide.
The annual "Clean Up Australia Day" has grown significantly since then, now welcoming over half a million volunteers.
This initiative aims to remove thousands of tonnes of litter from various locations, including beaches, parks, streets, waterways.
Types of collected waste include used cigarettes, glass and plastic bottles, plastic bags, and snack wrappers.
In 1993, Kiernan expanded internationally, launching "Clean Up the World" in partnership with the UN Environment Programme.
"Clean Up the World", held annually on the third weekend of September, involved over 30 million participants in 80 countries during its first year.
Kiernan observed a growing concern about electronic waste (e-waste) like computers and phones, accumulating faster than other waste types.
E-waste can constitute up to 70% of landfill waste, posing health risks from chemical leaks.
Recognizing this problem, he introduced "Clean Up Mobile Phones" to promote responsible recycling.
Kiernan advocates for increased company responsibility for product lifecycle management (recycling).

Discover the impactful journey of Ian Kiernan, who sparked a global movement to combat ocean pollution starting from a 1987 sailing race. Learn about significant events like Clean Up Sydney Harbour and Clean Up Australia Day, and how these initiatives mobilize millions of volunteers worldwide to tackle litter in our environment.