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.
We`re thrilled to announce that Professor Helen Christensen, a pioneer in using the internet to reach young people struggling with depression, will be joining the conversation with Peter Joseph AM from the Black Dog Institute and journalist Emma Rossi at the Planetary Health Centre at 2pm this Saturday 29 November. Helen was the Executive Director and Chief Scientist for the Black Dog Institute for 10 years and has now been elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science. Her digital mental health interventions are used by millions globally, delivering evidence-based therapy for depression, anxiety, and suicide prevention. Her research uses data from smartphones and wearables – like movement, screen use, and sleep – to detect early signs of mental health issues. This free event is being co-hosted by Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Human composting is increasingly being legalised around the world. Read about it in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://www.katoombalocalnews.com/legalising-human-composting/
If you’d like to see this option available in NSW you can now sign a live petition to the NSW Parliament here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/43QIHbz
Thanks to everyone who contributed to deliver a fantastic Disaster Risk Awareness Expo and Family Day yesterday. @mark_greenhill_mayor opened the event at which we celebrated the 13th birthday of Betty the Asbestos Education House; @firecoat_au demonstrated and launched its range of fire retardant products that can help protect homes, gardens and even electricity poles; the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit was launched; Santa arrived and delighted young and old; and @plantinspired99 and Action for Animals fed us all with a delicious plant-based sausage sizzle. The day was filled with talks, workshops, stalls and the sharing of a huge amount of expertise to keep us, and the other species we share our planet with, safe and healthy! @southkatoomba.rfb @nswses @fireandrescuensw @nswrfs @redcrossleura @redcrossau @shelter.building.design @firehalo.au @asbestosawareness @amelie_ecology @bbagsbluemtns @wireswildliferescue @handsheartfeet
Our marquee is up and we`re excited about our Expo and Family Day tomorrow (Sat 22 Nov). There`s something for everyone from a free sausage sizzle, plants from Santa and drumming and pollinator workshops, to sessions on keeping you and our community safe from extreme weather events and hazardous substances like mould and asbestos. Learn how intumescent paints can slow the spread of fire and pick up a sample pot; check out all our emergency service organisations; learn how to dispose of hazardous materials; paint a native orchid, make some seed balls or sew a boomerang bag to give as plastic-free Christmas presents this year; enjoy coffee and locally made sweets; and get tips on how to retrofit your home safely and beautifully to be prepared for future extreme weather events. View the full program and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There are so many new and innovative ways of doing things, like the new cooking techniques being explored by Michael from Good Fat Pastry, and the new fire protection methods being launched at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Check out Michael’s recent presentation at the Food Security Fair in our video here: https://bit.ly/4pnXbIg (link in profile) and come along to taste his delicious carrot cake and pastries at the Expo on Saturday. Check out the program and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
In 2006 Peter Joseph’s son Michael suicided after a 14-year episodic battle with mental illness. Peter is now the Chair of the Black Dog Institute which is working to achieve better outcomes for all those struggling with mental health issues. Journalist Emma Rossi will engage Peter in an intimate and moving conversation about a life of purpose and mental health advocacy. As a Rotary scholar Peter will also reflect on how Rotary helped shape his values and sense of purpose as a young man - and how those early lessons continue to guide his work today. This free event is being hosted by the Upper Blue Mountains Sunrise Rotary Club and the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Initiative on Saturday 29 November from 2-4pm at the Planetary Health Centre at 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba. Afternoon tea will be provided. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4oOnYxz
Learn about intumescent fire retardant paint and a range of other strategies to prepare for extreme weather events, and to manage hazardous materials, at the upcoming Expo and Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre on Sat 22 Nov. You can register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J We checked out how intumescent paint works in this video.
When temperatures reach a certain point the intumescent paint begins to swell and expand, often up to 50 times its original thickness. It forms a thick, carbonaceous "char" that acts as an insulating barrier. This layer slows the rate at which heat reaches the structural elements and buys valuable time for people to safely exit a building during a fire. It makes the structure safer for firefighters and rescue teams. #intumescentpaint #fireretardant #bushfire @firecoat_au...
Mould, lead paint, asbestos, silica dust from engineered stone bench tops and a wide range of chemicals, are amongst some of the many hazardous substances entering our environment and negatively impacting our health. Asbestos is found in over 3000 products including textured paints, moulded garden pots, brake pads and clutch linings in older cars, floor and ceiling tiles, lino, fibro, roofing, pipes and gutters, hot water systems, backing for switchboards and insulation boards in air-conditioning ducts, insulation, sealants, fillers, caulking and adhesives, gaskets for industrial and lab equipment and more. We’ll have information to take away and Blue Mountains City Council and the Asbestos and Hazardous Materials Consultants Association (AHCA) will be running free workshops on how to identify and manage these hazardous substances at the Planetary Health Centre`s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo in Katoomba on Sat 22 Nov. Find out more and register to attend here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Are you ready for the next bushfire, heatwave or flood? Why not take steps to prepare at the Planetary Health Centre`s Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 Nov. Award-winning Hempcrete designer Kirstie Wulf from @shelter.building.design will share 10 steps to build or renovate for sustainability and resilience; engineer Mark Liebman will share how you can build a green roof to reduce stormwater runoff and cool your building; Dr Agnieszka Wujeska-Klause will share research results on the most appropriate actions to lower heat in summer and help you use a thermal imaging camera to identify which surfaces retain the most heat; Frank Inzitari will introduce you to the @firehalo.au which can help reduce ember attack; and a team from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will work with you to use the Bushfire Retrofit Toolkit to design your own personal bushfire plan. We`ll also be launching Firecoat`s new Bushfire Home Protection Kit. Learn more and register to attend here: https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There are so many extraordinary volunteers keeping us and wildlife safe all year round! Come along and meet them at the Expo and Family Day at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 22nd Nov. Learn what you can do to be ready for emergencies, and how you can volunteer or help in some other way. Together we can be more prepared and reduce the risk of disaster. There`ll be a free sausage sizzle so help give us an idea of numbers by registering here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
Thank you Blue Mountains community for the generous donation of 11 sewing machines which we`ll be using for our free sewing workshop with Boomerang Bags at the Expo and Family Day on Sat 22 November at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. It`s an opportunity for the whole family to make free Christmas presents that `don`t cost the earth`! Register here if you`d like to attend (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J (and you`ll get a free fire retardant plant from Santa while you`re there!)
Did you know that Australia has the world`s highest incidence of asbestos-related diseases per capita in the world, killing more than 4,000 Australians every year - three times more than the annual road toll; and that asbestos-related deaths are predicted to rise! Asbestos isn’t just in fibro homes and sheds - it was used in the manufacture of more than 3000 asbestos containing products with many of these products remaining in any brick, fibro, weatherboard, clad home or apartment built or renovated before 1990. Asbestos was used everywhere in homes - lurking under floor coverings including carpets, linoleum and vinyl tiles, behind wall and floor tiles, in cement floors, internal and external walls, ceilings and ceiling space (insulation), eaves, garages, roofs, around hot water pipes, fences, home extensions, garages, outdoor toilets, backyard and farm structures, chook sheds and even in dog kennels. Exposure to asbestos fibres during home renovations has been linked to 51% of mesothelioma deaths. There is no cure for mesothelioma. The average survival time following diagnosis is just 10-12 months. Homeowners, renovators and tradies are most at risk of exposure if they disturb asbestos containing materials. On Saturday 22 November, “Betty – The Asbestos Education House” will be a prominent feature of the Blue Mountains City Council’s Disaster Risk Awareness Expo to help educate local homeowners and tradies about the dangers of asbestos that remains lurking in 1-in-3 Aussie homes including many throughout the Blue Mountains region as part of National Asbestos Awareness Month (November). There will also be workshops and stalls on asbestos and a range of other hazardous materials and how you can manage them to protect youreself, your family and your community. Find out more and register here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nFrY1J
There is a little bit of magic happening on Wednesdays at the Planetary Health Centre as young volunteers from Kindlehill School, and Council staff, work together to create a demonstration site for the wider community. This hands-on program is inspiring all involved, including teacher Sarah Daniel.
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