The Leprosy Mission: Healing through World Cleanup

For the first time, World Cleanup Day was officially recognised on the United Nations calendar last Saturday, September 20. This was a significant milestone for a movement that began in Estonia in 2008, and has since mobilised over 114 million people across 211 countries to tackle the global waste crisis.

This year, the celebration takes on even more meaning in Australia with the launch of The Leprosy Mission Australia’s Sip, Save, Support campaign. The initiative invites Australians to collect eligible drink containers, return them through their state or territory refund scheme, and donate the 10-cent refund to support people affected by leprosy.

CEO Greg Clarke calls it “a kind of poetic justice.”

“Excess plastic and glass waste is a shared problem that damages our planet. Yet those same discarded containers can be recycled and redirected to bring healing and hope. It’s a redemptive arc—what once polluted the earth becomes a resource that transforms lives.”

Funds raised will provide practical care, treatment, and opportunities for those impacted by leprosy, helping to end the ancient disease in our lifetime. Churches, schools, and community groups are encouraged to collect containers together to amplify their impact.

To learn more or access free group resources, visit: https://stillathing.org/sipsavesupport/