Katoomba Area Local NewsStrengthening community, healing Country, and restoring the health of our planet.
Picking Up the Pieces: How a Small Group in Katoomba is Tackling Planetary Health
KTOWN’ers (L-R) Simon, Don & Adam, outside ‘the office’ Cassiopeia
In Katoomba, a grassroots litter-picking group tackles rubbish before it reaches our water supply. Their story shows how local environmental action, fueled by community connection, can drive meaningful change.
Key Points:
One man’s simple decision to pick up litter in Katoomba grew into a small community group, demonstrating how individual actions can spark broader movements.
The group observed that the NSW container deposit scheme reduced bottle and can litter by almost 50%, showing that the right incentives can effectively change people’s disposal habits.
The Katoomba group exemplifies how local communities can take ownership of environmental challenges, with their work protecting both local ecosystems and broader water systems while building social connections.
On a wet afternoon in the Blue Mountains, rainwater surges down Katoomba’s streets, carrying scraps of plastic, takeaway cups, and stray fragments of paper. Left unchecked, the torrent would sweep through Katoomba Falls, down the Jamison Valley, and ultimately into Warragamba Dam—Sydney’s main water supply.
But on this day, the flood of waste is interrupted by a small act of care. A man in a “KTOWN” shirt crouches by the curb, pulling rubbish from the gutter with a pair of barbecue tongs. What he collects may seem insignificant—half a bag of plastic, a handful of cans—but each piece is one less hazard for wildlife, one less pollutant in the water system.
This is Katoomba’s ‘KTOWN’ litter-picking group – Katoombans Taking On Waste Now – a small, grassroots effort with an outsized impact.
A personal journey
Lookout litter spoiling the view
The group’s origins are humble. Simon Day, a long-time bushwalker and Bushcare volunteer, moved to Katoomba in 2019, drawn by the pristine escarpments and World Heritage wilderness.
“I thought the litter problem would be less here than in Sydney,” he admits. “But it turns out rubbish is a universal phenomenon.”
His solution was simple: pick it up. With nothing more than a reusable bag and a pair of gloves, he began clearing litter from local tracks and streets. Soon after, fellow resident Don noticed him while walking his dog and struck up a conversation. Over a coffee with Don, Adam joined, and the Katoomba litter-picking group was born.
“It shows how one small action can spark a movement,” he says.
The practice of picking
The group’s “tool kit” is hardly high-tech—bags, gloves, and $10 grabbers from the hardware store. But the rewards are immediate.
“After just half an hour, you look down at the bag and realise how much has been stopped from going into the creek,” Simon reflects. “It’s a small effort, but it makes a big difference.”
Litter collected near the Hydro Majestic Hotel in Medlow Bath
Their work focuses on “hot spots”: the heavily trafficked escarpment walks near Scenic World and Echo Point, rest areas along the highway, and picnic grounds such as Maple Grove, where rubbish piles up alarmingly fast.
The practice isn’t just about beautification. It’s about prevention. Each piece removed before the next rainstorm means fewer pollutants in creeks, valleys, and ultimately in Sydney’s drinking water.
Camaraderie and coffee
While the picking itself is important, the group has also discovered the quiet joy of camaraderie. They often meet at Cassiopeia Café in Katoomba, a cosy local spot where maps are spread out and decisions made about which “hot spots” to tackle that day. After a session of litter-picking, the group reconvenes at the café to debrief, swap stories, and share the small triumphs of the morning.
“It gives us a sense of belonging,” says Simon. “You’re not just cleaning up—you’re part of a little community that cares about this place.”
In that ritual of coffee, conversation, and connection, the work becomes more than environmental action. It becomes a social bond that sustains the effort.
Simon’s ‘litter diary’. Note the $5,356 made from recycling drink containers through the Return and Earn scheme since 2014
“The frustrating part is that so much of this is preventable,” says Simon. “It’s not just about the plastic itself. It’s about behaviour—someone had it in their hand, and they let it go.”
The group documents what they see, submitting photos and reports through the Council’s customer service system.
A dumped couch and TV, reported to Council for removal
Changing behaviour
The pickers are clear: real change will only come from shifting behaviour. And small incentives can help.
Since the introduction of the NSW container deposit scheme, they’ve observed almost a 50% reduction in bottles and cans littering local streets. “As soon as there was a monetary value attached, people stopped throwing them away. That shows what’s possible.”
But the group also believes in leading by example. Wearing their “K-Town” shirts while they work often sparks conversations with locals and visitors alike.
“People come up to us and say, ‘That’s a great idea,’” Simon explains. “It raises awareness just by being visible.”
Bags of litter collected at a highway rest area in Katoomba
Beyond blame
It’s tempting to blame tourists for litter in the Blue Mountains, but the group’s experience suggests otherwise.
“Locals are just as responsible,” one says. “You see homeowners who don’t clear the gutter outside their house, or businesses who ignore the rubbish on their footpath. If we want visitors to respect this landscape, we have to show that we respect it ourselves.”
This ethos links directly to planetary health, the emerging field that connects human wellbeing with the health of natural systems. By keeping streets and creeks clean, the group isn’t just protecting wildlife—they’re safeguarding water quality, reducing plastic pollution, and fostering community pride.
Grassroots action for planetary health
Globally, efforts to tackle plastic pollution often stall at the policy level. The recent international plastics summit ended without consensus, despite the urgency of the problem. But grassroots action tells a different story.
“Rather than waiting for a top-down solution, we have to do something ourselves,” says Simon. “Change has to come from the ground up.”
This philosophy is echoed by planetary health advocates worldwide: local actions can scale into systemic change. Councils are the closest level of government to communities, and when residents and local authorities collaborate, they can build momentum that eventually reaches higher levels of governance.
Vehicle crash debris on Katoomba Street, headed for our waterways
A fragile hope
The work is never finished. Within a week of clearing a site, new rubbish appears. But persistence is part of the point.
“It’s easy to imagine a dystopian future, like the film WALL·E, where we drown in our own waste,” says Simon. “But it’s just as possible to imagine a future where communities take ownership of their environment. Where every creek, every street, is valued as part of a living system.”
In Katoomba, that future is already taking shape—one bag of rubbish at a time, often with a cup of coffee waiting at Cassiopeia afterwards.
Planetary health, piece by piece
The litter-pickers of Katoomba don’t see themselves as heroes. They see themselves as neighbours, custodians, and ordinary people doing what needs to be done.
But in their persistence lies a profound lesson for planetary health: global challenges can be tackled from the ground up. Each act of care ripples outward—into the waterways, into the community, into the wider world.
The story of Katoomba’s litter-picking group is not about perfection. It is about participation. And it reminds us that protecting the planet doesn’t always start in parliaments or at summits. Sometimes, it starts with a pair of tongs, a reusable bag, and the decision to bend down and pick something up.
Simon Day, anti-litter hero and founder of KTOWN
Start your own litter picking group:
Start small – All you need is a bag, gloves, and a pair of tongs or grabbers. Even 30 minutes of collecting makes a difference.
Pick a patch – Focus on local “hot spots” where rubbish gathers—creeks, parks, rest areas, or streets with heavy foot traffic.
Be visible – Wear a simple shirt or badge so people know what you’re doing. Visibility sparks conversations and inspires others. Check out Katoomba T-Shirts who make custom designs.
Meet regularly – Choose a café or community spot to gather before and after picking. Sharing the experience builds camaraderie and keeps motivation high.
Record and report – Take photos, track what you collect, and report bigger issues (broken bins, unsafe sites) to your local council.
Celebrate the wins – Every bag of rubbish removed is a small victory—for your community, your waterways, and planetary health.
Are there native bees and insects in your garden? Today is the first day of Australian Pollinator Week and native bee ecologist and musician @amelie_ecology has just released a new single with Costa Georgiadis @costasworld called ‘Not all Pests’. We’re thrilled that Amelie will be performing her songs and running a free interactive workshop on what we can do to support our native pollinators at the Planetary Health Expo and Family Day on Saturday 22nd November. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
and you can stream ’Not all Pests’ here (link in profile): https://amelieecology.bandcamp.com/track/not-all-pests
There are so many ways to have a greener healthier Christmas! Ever thought of giving a voucher for Tai Chi and Qigong classes? You can try out one of our Qigong classes at the Planetary Health Centre this Saturday at 9am. Tutor Virginia Field is currently introducing Qigong`s 5-Animals Play, an ancient practice which developed from observing animals and mimicking their behaviour. Reserve a spot here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3JlOAXh Find other ideas for a greener Christmas on Council`s website here: www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/greenchristmas
Or come along to our Expo and Family Day on 22 November and try out some other great options like drumming classes, sewing and fashion upcycling! Register to attend here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025
We’ve had some great news! Santa is coming to the free Community BBQ at the Planetary Health Centre Expo in Katoomba on Saturday 22 November. He’s arriving early to help us celebrate Christmas in a way that’s safer and healthier for us and the planet, and he’s let us know that he’ll be giving everyone who comes a free fire-retardant plant for their garden. We’re so thrilled we’re putting on fun family events for the day: from a fabulous free drumming workshop with Emily from Hands, Heart and Feet, to live music and a pollinator hunt with Amelie Ecology, and workshops to create plastic-free Christmas presents. There’ll also be an opportunity to meet the RFS, NSW Fire & Rescue, Red Cross and other emergency services. Come and learn ways to keep the family safe while also having fun, enjoying a coffee, sampling some plant-based sweets and a free BBQ lunch, and taking home lots of useful information about hazardous materials and preparing for extreme weather events! Register here to attend (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025?
Do you feel overwhelmed about preparing your home for bushfire? Come along to the free Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit Workshop at the Disaster Risk Awareness Expo (and pre-Christmas Family Day) at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 22 Nov. Meet the team who developed the Toolkit and learn to use it in a free, 2-hour interactive workshop. You will have the opportunity to work on case study properties in small groups and ask the team questions about your own property. Free afternoon tea provided. Bookings essential here (Disaster Risk Awareness Expo link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/disaster-risk-awareness-expo-or-full-cycle-2025/tickets #beprepared #bushfire #retrofit #disasterriskawareness #planetaryhealth #katoomba #bluemountains #bushfireretrofittoolkit...
When we pulled up some old lino we were shocked to learn at the Katoomba Resource Recovery and Waste Management Facility that it was made of asbestos. There are so many parts of old homes in the Blue Mountains that contain asbestos, so, to help keep everyone safe, we`ve invited Betty the Asbestos Education House to the Planetary Health Centre on Saturday 22nd November as part of our Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and pre-Christmas Family Day. Betty is a purpose built, mobile model home designed to demonstrate where asbestos might be found in and around any Australian home built or renovated before 1990. Her exterior resembles a typical fibro home but when opened up, she has extensive audio and visual information including a bathroom, kitchen, living room, man shed/garage and a dog house. You can learn more and register to attend this free event here (link in profile): www.fullcycleconference.com.au
Yesterday we launched the Upper Mountains Seed Saving and Gardening Group at the Planetary Health Centre. It`s the perfect time to get planting so we shared locally acclimatised seeds for a variety of beans (they don`t cross-pollinate so you can plant as many varieties as you can fit in!), round yellow zucchinis, Japanese pumpkins and Roi de Carouby peas. Seeds are arguably one of the best return on investments you can make in your life. Plant one tiny celery seed and when that plant goes to seed you can harvest thousands to replant and to sprout and add to your salads. We`ll be meeting on the first Saturday of every month as part of Skill Share Saturdays at the Planetary Health Centre. Our next meeting will be Saturday 6 Dec. Register here if you`d like to attend (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/copy-of-upper-mountains-seed-saving-and-gardening-group?
The KTOWN pickers - Katoombans Taking On Waste Now - are clearing litter from local tracks and streets and stopping it from entering our waterways and eventually our water supply. Read more in Katoomba Area Local News (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/ktown-katoombans-taking-on-waste-now/
This Saturday will be the first meeting of the Upper Mountains Seed Saving and Gardening Group at the Planetary Health Centre, starting at 10am. Register your interest here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/3LalNFy
It will be followed by the Planetary Health Bushcare group at 1.30pm. Register your interest here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/49k8PPo
Global poisoning by a tsunami of toxins that are flooding the planet is fast becoming the biggest threat to life on earth. Extreme weather events like fire and flood accelerate this chemical pollution. To address this the Planetary Health Centre`s Full Cycle 2025 conference from 20-22 Nov is bringing together leading experts in managing extreme weather events as well as those who are working on reducing the risk of hazardous materials like asbestos and PFAS. According to keynote speaker Julian Cribb:
"The poisoning of our planet through human chemical emissions is arguably the largest human impact of all upon the Earth. In volume, it is four to five times greater than our climate emissions (which are a part of it), and three times more lethal than the estimated climate death-toll. It is the mega-threat least understood by society, monitored by science or regulated by government. It has mainly occurred over the last 50 years, due to a massive global surge in chemical use and materials extraction.
Scientific assessment has identified more than 350,000 man-made chemicals. The US Department of Health estimates 2000 new chemicals go on the market every year and the Smithsonian says 1000 new compounds are now being synthesised every hour. The UN Environment Program warns about a third of these “are persistent, able to accumulate in humans and animals and are toxic”.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 13.7 million people — one in every four — die each year from diseases caused by “air, water and soil pollution, chemical exposures, climate change and ultraviolet radiation”, caused by human activity.
Human chemical emissions are thus responsible for the largest mass killing in history.
Learn more and register for the conference here (link in profile): www.fullcycleconference.com.au
There will be a free community expo on Saturday 22 November at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba.
Conference volunteers receive free registration. Email [email protected] if you’d like to volunteer at this critically important event.
T`ai-chi and Qigong routines can increase mobility and strength, improve immunity and help build an inner calm. To get the greatest health impact you need to practice them on a regular basis, so we`re thrilled to now be offering a 6-week block of classes to take you into summer starting 9am this Saturday 1 November and running until Sat 6 December. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4qrw4Nx This Saturday, 1 November, the activity is also the first in a full day of Skill Share activities at the Centre that includes Seed Saving and Gardening from 10am, and Planetary Health Bushcare from 1.30pm. You can book in for Bushcare here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/49k8PPo Contact Lis on 0407 437 553 for more information.
Rotarians 4 Planetary Health will be meeting again at the Planetary Health Centre at 6pm on Monday 27 October. Register at this link if you`d like to attend! (link in profile) https://events.humanitix.com/rotarians-4-planetary-health-l7bb4qhr?
Thank you to everyone who popped by for the @ediblegardentrailbluemountains today! It was a great day discussing gardens, ponds, frogs, seeds, composting seats, wicking beds and how to restore the hydrological cycle! Next Saturday will be our Skill Share Saturday. We`ll be kickstarting a 6-week block of Tai Chi & Qigong at 9am, launching our Seed Saving and Gardening Group at 10am and running our monthly Bushcare Group at 1.30pm. You can book in for Tai Chi here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/tai-chi-and-qigong-six-week-block-spring-2025-qaw2ts2v and to Bushcare here (link also in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/planetary-health-bushcare-spring-summer-2025
As challenges mount globally there is one group of community builders who, for 120 years now, have been strengthening the world’s social fabric and addressing ways civil society can help alleviate suffering and inequality; improve people’s quality of life; and create a more peaceful, healthier planet.
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