Prince Albert II of Monaco was spotted helping pick up litter on the streets of Monaco Sunday as he participated in World Cleanup Day.
“This World Day for the Cleanup of the Planet is a social action program to fight the problem of solid waste including that of marine debris,” according to a statement from the Prince’s Palace.
Prince Albert was participating by “picking up a maximum of rubbish in his city” then helping to sort it for recycling.
World Cleanup Day was founded in Estonia a decade ago and has since evolved to become a global initiative that operates in 157 countries with over 18 million volunteers. The Let’s Do It World program facilitates activities, but views itself as something bigger than simply collecting and sorting garbage and recycle.
According to its website, “Our vision is a clean and healthy waste free planet. We tackle the environmental challenges related to the mismanaged solid waste crisis by mobilizing millions of positive-minded people into coordinated local and global actions.”
World Cleanup Day “harnesses the power of everyday people to achieve incredible things by joining together. Its beauty lies in cooperation and collaboration: building bridges between disparate communities, and including all levels of society – from citizens to business, to government.”
Though this was the first time Monaco had participated, its neighbour, France, has been a long-time participant.
The Monegasque event saw the combination of sports and exercise into the cleanup, with hiking, walking and running activities offered. Participants helped on land and in the sea bordering Monaco. Prince Albert was joined by about 150 volunteers for the event, including students from Charles III and François d’Assise-Nicolas Barré schools.
Speaking to reporters during the cleanup, Prince Albert said that “I see a lot of people mobilised this year around this huge problem of waste and our unconsciousness when inadvertently or sometimes knowingly, unfortunately, we throw garbage that is not recyclable by walking in the street or out of our cars.”
