Cleaning up for the future
EVERY piece of rubbish picked up may seem small, but together they tell a bigger story – one of care, responsibility, and the hope for a cleaner future.
For Mark Liao, president of Sarawak Eco Warriors, Cleanup Day is more than just another campaign. It’s a chance to spark long-term habits and inspire communities in Kuching to rethink their relationship with nature.
“Learning about nature and the environment can be a useful and fun thing to do.
“Through clean-ups, we hope that people can learn to appreciate nature and become responsible citizens,” he told Sarawak Tribune.
Founded in 2017, Sarawak Eco Warriors has made a name for itself as a youth-led movement championing biodiversity, waste reduction, and community empowerment.
Their work goes beyond litter-picking; they combine action with education, giving volunteers – especially young people – a hands-on understanding of the problems facing the environment.
“To make clean-ups more meaningful, it’s always important to engage volunteers, especially the young, while also incorporating nature education in the sessions.
“That way, they don’t just walk away having collected rubbish – they leave with a stronger connection to nature and a better understanding of why their actions matter,” Liao explained.
Tackling wider challenges
This year’s Cleanup Day takes place against the backdrop of Kuching’s growing waste issues. From urban litter to rivers choked with plastic, the city faces a complex mix of environmental pressures.
For Liao, the event is a crucial platform to confront these realities head-on.
“Cleanup Day is a great opportunity to address the reality that plastic pollution is a major problem.
“We need to learn how to work together to create a cleaner environment for everyone,” he added.
But for Sarawak Eco Warriors, the work doesn’t end when the rubbish bags are tied up. Each clean-up is also a chance to gather data, highlight issues, and push for larger systemic change.
“In all of our clean-ups we prioritise experience, education, and data collection.
“Data collection is an essential tool for people to understand what kinds of trash end up on our shores, and it encourages policymakers to make informed policies addressing waste mismanagement,” Liao shared.
By recording what’s found – whether it’s plastic bottles, food packaging, or even unusual items like a whale bone – the team builds a clearer picture of Sarawak’s waste problem.
That evidence, Liao hopes, will guide not only community habits but also decisions at higher levels of leadership.
Scaling up: The Borneo Blue Initiative
From this foundation, Sarawak Eco Warriors are now ready to take their efforts to the next level. This year’s World Cleanup Day will also double as the soft launch of the Borneo Blue Initiative – perhaps their most ambitious project yet.
Touted as the largest clean-up drive ever organised on the island of Borneo, the initiative will span eight coastal sites across Sarawak.
“The Borneo Blue Initiative is about scaling up what we’ve already been doing – linking communities across Sarawak to protect our coasts and seas,” explained Liao, who leads the effort.
To make it happen, the team is inviting corporate partners to come on board through their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes.
“Collaboration is key. The more hands we have, the stronger the impact,” he added.
Those interested can reach out to Sarawak Eco Warriors via email at sarawakecowarriors@gmail.com.
Building a movement
At its heart, though, World Cleanup Day remains a community movement. Liao dreams of it growing into something even more self-sustaining in the years ahead.
“I hope that Sarawak Eco Warriors can continue being an avenue for people to come together and champion nature.
“We hope that more people take up the lead in running their own clean-up programmes and encouraging others to think about sustainability,” he shared.
His words reflect the organisation’s wider vision: to nurture environmental stewardship from the ground up.
While the immediate outcome of a clean-up is a visibly tidier street or riverbank, the real goal lies in shifting mindsets – especially among the younger generation.
For him, the journey towards a cleaner Sarawak is not a sprint but a marathon, requiring patience, education, and persistence.
World Cleanup Day offers a glimpse of what’s possible when individuals come together – but the real work continues long after the last bag of rubbish is collected.
As volunteers gather once again for this day, Liao’s hope is simple yet powerful: that the day inspires people to look beyond the act of picking up rubbish and see themselves as part of a wider movement.
A movement that champions responsibility, resilience, and the belief that every small action contributes to a healthier Sarawak.
