Clean Up the World 2025 |20 September 2025

‘Let’s stop blaming and start acting’

The 27th ‘Clean Up the World’ is underway, and Seychelles is once again answering the call. But this year, the message is louder and clearer than ever: ‘Lapropte i nou Responsabilite’ — Cleanliness is our responsibility. It's not just a slogan; it's a national duty and a constitutional right.

As citizens of this island paradise, Seychellois have both the right to a clean, safe environment and the responsibility to protect it, as enshrined in Article 38 of our Constitution. The Landscape and Waste Management Agency (LWMA), the lead agency behind the national campaign, is urging every resident, business, and visitor to take meaningful action – beyond the symbolic act of picking up litter for a day.

“This is not just about waste collection – it’s a mindset shift,” said LWMA management. “We all need to be accountable for the waste we generate, whether it's from a home, a roadside vendor, or a multinational business.”

From Excuse to Action

Seychelles has long taken part in the global Clean Up the World movement, which began in 1993 in partnership with UNEP. Since joining in 1998, the country has rallied thousands in community-based action. Yet LWMA stresses that being a small island state is no longer an excuse for insufficient progress.

“Other small countries have made great strides in waste management. We must do the same – and even exceed them.”

With growing challenges like limited landfill space, illegal dumping, and low-grade waste imports, the agency is calling for immediate and coordinated action.

Building a circular economy, one household at a time

The agency highlights the urgent need for waste segregation at the household level, and the importance of adopting circular economy practices, turning waste into a resource. LWMA has announced it will begin exploring stricter penalties for non-compliance with waste regulations, emphasising that environmental health is national health.

A shared responsibility

Since its formation in 2009, LWMA has provided landscaping, beach cleaning, and waste disposal services across Mahé, Praslin, La Digue, and outer islands. Now, with a new three-year strategic plan, the agency is stepping up efforts to:

• Promote integrated waste management and recycling.
• Enhance urban green spaces and biodiversity.
• Boost environmental education and public engagement.

But LWMA can’t do it alone

“The government is doing its part. But this is a shared responsibility. Every citizen must take ownership of their actions.”

A vision for the future

Imagine a cleaner, greener, and more beautiful Seychelles – not just for today, but for generations to come. That vision is within reach, but it requires commitment from every Seychellois.

As we mark another year of Clean Up the World, let it not be just another event – but the beginning of a national awakening.

Let’s stop blaming and start acting. Let’s not wait for someone else to clean up after us. Lapropte i nou Responsabilite.

Contributed by LWMA