The "Litter Less" campaign, which aims at reducing litter and effecting long-term behavior change among global youth, was launched in the High School Affiliated to University of Science and Technology in Beijing on Oct 30.

The campaign is part of the eco-schools program supported by the international Foundation for Environmental Education and the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company Foundation, with the participation of 272 schools in 20 countries, of which 55 are Chinese schools.

During the launch ceremony, students performed a drama about environmental protection and a fashion show in which the clothes were made of materials recycled from litter.

After the launch ceremony, teachers gave a series of environment protection related classes, such as designing a trash bin and how to sort different types of garbage.

"Fast urbanization has made the garbage problem a serious issue for many cities in China," said Zhu Zhenxu, deputy director of the Education Section at the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Environmental Protection.

"Every year, more than 300 million metric tons of trash is produced in China, which becomes a threat to public health and the sustainability of society. So it is very important to educate our young people to be aware of the issue and take action."

The campaign will continue throughout the year, and students will design and lead their own anti-littering projects and events.