World Cleanup Day launched, calling for food waste reduction

HÀ NỘI — More than 1,000 people joined the launch ceremony for the World Cleanup Day 2026 at Thống Nhất Park in Hà Nội on Sunday morning with focus on food waste.

Themed 'From a Clean Plate to a Clean City', the event attracted the participation of youth union, sanitation workers and residents.

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Environment Lê Trọng Yên said reducing waste and food loss at source, together with promoting waste separation at source, should be regarded as the foundation of modern waste management.

He called on households, agencies, schools, restaurants, hotels, markets, and food and beverage businesses to gradually change their shopping, food preparation and consumption habits toward greater efficiency and reduced waste.

The World Cleanup Day was launched by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1993, with Việt Nam joining the campaign in 1994.