Poznań residents will once again have the chance to roll up their sleeves and help tidy up their local neighbourhoods when the city’s 33rd edition of the World Cleanup Campaign begins on 7 September.
Running until 20 September 2026, the Poznań campaign invites residents to organise their own clean-up groups and take care of the places they know best, from their local fyrtel (district) and dog-walking routes to the areas around schools and workplaces.
Registrations opened on 10 August and will remain open until Tuesday, 15 September.
This year’s focus is on keeping rubbish out of the water
The national campaign, coordinated by Fundacja Nasza Ziemia since its beginnings, is being held under the slogan “SOS dla wody - niech będzie wolna od śmieci!”, or “SOS for water - let it be free of rubbish!”
The focus is particularly relevant to Poznań. Waste left near a stream, pond, river or lake does not necessarily stay where it was dropped. Rubbish can be carried by flowing water and eventually make its way towards the sea and oceans.
For the Poznań edition, organisers are therefore putting the emphasis on the city’s fyrtle, encouraging people to start with the places closest to home.
The campaign aims to motivate residents to do something practical for their immediate surroundings, while also drawing attention to the connection between local litter and the wider environment.
How to join the Poznań clean-up
Taking part does not require joining a large organised event. Residents can form their own group and choose a convenient date and location during the two-week campaign.
The process is simple:
Gather a group of neighbours, friends, family members or colleagues.
Choose a date between 7 and 20 September.
Select an area to clean, checking the current campaign map first. This could be your own fyrtel, a favourite walking route or an area near your school or workplace.
Complete the online registration form by 15 September.
Collect the necessary cleaning supplies, including rubbish bags and gloves.
Carry out the clean-up and send a photograph of the collected waste to the organisers.
The Department of Municipal Services of the Poznań City Office (Wydział Gospodarki Komunalnej Urzędu Miasta Poznania) will provide participants with bags and gloves. These can be collected from the department’s offices at ul. 28 Czerwca 1956 r. 404.
After the clean-up, participants are asked to send a photograph showing the collected rubbish to the Department of Municipal Services. The photos will be used on the campaign map and will assist with arranging the collection of the waste.
A local clean-up with a social side
The organisers are also encouraging participants to treat the campaign as an opportunity to spend time together.
A neighbourhood clean-up can be a chance to meet people who live nearby, while workplaces, schools and groups of friends can use the event as a simple way to spend time together outside their usual routines.
For international residents of Poznań, it can also be an accessible way to get involved in the life of their local fyrtel and contribute to a city-wide community initiative.
The campaign deliberately keeps the focus local. Rather than waiting for a large city event, residents are encouraged to look at the places they use every day and consider what they can improve together.
Dates to remember
Poznań World Cleanup Campaign: 7-20 September 2026
Registration: 10 August-15 September 2026
Registration deadline: Tuesday, 15 September 2026
Cleaning supplies: Bags and gloves provided by the Poznań City Office
Collection point: Wydział Gospodarki Komunalnej, ul. 28 Czerwca 1956 r. 404
For Poznań, the campaign is a reminder that keeping the city clean starts at the local neighbourhood level. This September, residents can choose their own corner of the city, gather a few people and leave their fyrtel a little cleaner than they found it.
Looking for more ways to get involved? Click here for our guide to summer volunteering opportunities in Poznań!
image credit: poznan.pl/gk
