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Greatest litter picking day so far

28.04.2020 - 10:57

Mynd: Mynd: Mummi Lú

Public participation in the Great Icelandic Litter Picking Day this year, which coincided with Earth Day on Saturday, was the highest and most successful in the event’s three-year history, organisers say. Tens-of-tonnes of rubbish were cleaned up from all regions of Iceland.

The organised clean-up operation this year was dedicated to Iceland’s healthcare workers who have been on the front line in the fight against the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. As a result, the day’s events were formally set into motion on the grounds of Landspítali university hospital’s Fossvogur site. Assembled litter pickers included the President and First Lady, as well as the Minister for the Environment.

President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson is arguably Iceland’s highest-profile litter picker. He has described cleaning up the physical environment as addictive and is often seen cleaning the shoreline near Bessastaðir with First Lady Eliza Reid and their children.

Hospitals, nursing homes, and healthcare centres around Iceland benefitted from a tidy-up this Saturday, along with many other places.

Organisers say that COVID-19 has brought a new level of solidarity and people wanted to show their appreciation to health workers. The crisis has also brought a new emphasis on environmental protection and the importance of spending time outside. The result was the best and most successful litter picking day to date. The excellent weather most likely also helped.

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