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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 Sydney’s water supply. Their story shows how local environmental action, fueled by community connection, can drive meaningful change for planetary health.
Key Points:
One man’s simple decision to pick up litter in Katoomba grew into a small community group removing litter and recycling much of it, 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.
Rather than waiting for top-down policy solutions, 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 on planetary health.
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
System failures
As the group’s experience deepened, they began noticing where waste management systems fall short.
Contractors mowing over litter, shredding it into hundreds of pieces. Council staff stretched too thin to cover the Mountains effectively. Businesses and homeowners neglecting the gutters outside their premises. Even major events like the Ultra-Trail race leaving gel wrappers along the track.
“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.
Plastic fencing in Kedumba Creek at Maple Grove, Katoomba
Grassroots 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.
Social enterprise @farmitforward is working to increase local food security one backyard after another, and with young people at Katoomba High School. At the Food Security Fair on Sat 18 Oct, co-founder Manu Prigioni will speak about Incorporating equity and nutrition security in discussions on food security: Farm It Forward’s response to the National Food Security Strategy document. Reserve your spot for her presentation here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/4nOSJle Read more about Manu and Farm it Forward in Katoomba Area Local News here (link in profile): https://bit.ly/46PTAfF
Join seed saver extraordinaire Lloyd Sharp, from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers, as we launch the Upper Blue Mountains Seed Saving and Gardening group at the Food Security Fair on Sat 18 October. Lloyd will share some of his extensive seed saving experience, and there will be an opportunity to purchase and share local seeds and plants. Huge thanks to Happy Valley Seeds for donating heirloom seeds and discount cards, and to @thediggersclub for generously donating Vegetable and Flower Sowing Guides and their 2025/2026 Heirloom Seed Annual. There will be one for every attendee! The Food Security Fair is being held at the Blue Mountains Planetary Health Centre 33-39 Acacia St Katoomba and the Seed Saving presentation is at 10.20am. Bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
Nev Sweeney, renowned permaculture teacher and practitioner, from Under the Choko Tree, will be leading a workshop on how to build and use a solar food dehydrator at the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair on Saturday 18 Oct. Nev will talk about why food dehydration is a good idea, some techniques that can be used to dry food, pretreat or not to pretreat, general tips and considerations about food drying, drying fruit and veg, testing for dryness and using dried produce. He will explain how he made a simple direct solar food dryer and a more complex indirect solar food dryer. Reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
Planetary Health volunteer, American permaculture teacher Susan Krings, has been helping to organise the inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair. If you`d like to learn more about volunteering at the Centre email planetaryhealth@bmcc.nsw.gov.au or ring 0407 437 553
You can purchase tickets for the Food Security Fair in Katoomba on Saturday 18 October here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-sec...
The day will include stalls, talks and demos about growing, sourcing, cooking, preserving and enjoying plant based food and protecting habitat for wildlife. The event is part of a series celebrating the centenary of World Animal Day.
The fabulous line up of speakers and workshop tutors includes Dr Milena Bojovic on the Future of Food; Holly Davis, co-founder of Iku and author of `Ferment`; Michael from Good Fat Pastry; Nev Sweeney from Under the Choko Tree on how to build a Solar Powered Food Dehydrator; Lloyd Sharp from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers; Marnee Fox from Forage to Feast; Teya Brooks Pribac from Plant Inspired; and Erin Hall on Weaving with Weeds and Manu Prigioni from Farm it Forward.
Stalls will include EarthRising Mushroom Farm, Bibi`s Kitchen, edible native plants, the Planetary Health Cafe and more.
Each session needs to be booked individually as numbers are strictly limited.
This event is being supported by a sEEd grant from the Australian Association for Environmental Education.
At the Food Security Fair on Sat 18th October the inspiring Teya Brooks Pribac, author of ‘Not Just Another Vegan Cookbook’ and founder of Plant Inspired, will be sharing innovative but very simple culinary techniques that can help you make delicious icecream, ‘egg` sandwiches and a wide range of cheeses without any eggs or dairy. Food that’s healthier for you and the planet. You no longer need to worry if the supermarket shelves suddenly don’t have eggs, or if you can’t afford them! There are so many cooking techniques that can help us create our favourite foods, without requiring animal products! The session will end with one of Teya’s fabulous cheese tastings. Bookings essential for this fascinating workshop here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
This event is one of a series celebrating the centenary of @worldanimalday @ph_alliance
In Marnee Fox’s session on Wild Edibles at the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair on Sat 18 October, she’ll share how to incorporate wild ingredients into your every day diet AND make it delicious. Marnee Fox is a sustainable interior decorator, stylist, foodie and weed convert. She`s also one half of Forage to Feast Australia with husband, renowned environmental educator Diego Bonetto. Building on Diego`s much-loved weed foraging workshops, Marnee takes the food found on the foraging tour to the table. Bookings essential (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
If you haven`t yet tried the deliciousness of Good Fat Pastry you`ll be in for a treat at the Food Security Fair on Sat 18 October! Join Michael, the creative baker producing these mouthwatering plant based (and mostly gluten free) treats for breakfast, where he will inspire you to rethink everything you know about baking:
"Baking is both borne and constrained by convention—as are our expectations. Since Ancient Egypt and Rome, eggs, dairy, and cereals have been used in baked goods for flavour and functionality. The enormity of cakes, pastries, biscuits, and desserts we know and love—and the countless we have no awareness of—have been discovered and created through spontaneity and experimentation. Almost always resting on the magical transformations of these key ingredients under heat and energy.
Yet as the realm of food is one of creativity and sensory inquisitiveness there are inherent possibilities for alternatives—in replicating the familiar as well as creating novelty. This path can follow the complexities of molecular gastronomy or the simple pragmatism of substituting with what`s on hand. Find whatever works for you."
Spaces are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
One of the highlights of our Food Security Fair on Sat 18th October is our Weaving with Weeds workshop at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. In this relaxing and enjoyable workshop Erin Hall will help you identify common invasive weeds that are ideal for basket making, and teach you the basic skills to weave a range of different objects. At the same time you`ll be removing and repurposing weeds that are destroying habitat for our wildlife! Places are limited so bookings essential here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
We’re thrilled to announce that tickets are now available for Ferment the Season with Holly Davis at the Blue Mountains Food Security Fair on Saturday 18th October at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba. Holly will demonstrate how to ferment the season to create more nutrient rich and digestible food. She is the co-founder of Sydney’s Iku Wholefoods and author of ‘Ferment - A Guide to the Ancient Art of Culturing Food’ and ’Nourish: Sustenance for Body and Soul”. Learn the foundational principles and several techniques for fermenting seasonally abundant produce. Fermentation increases nutrition and eating a little ferment with every meal has unlimited benefits for our overall wellbeing and the planet! Places are limited so book early here (Food Security Fair link in profile for tickets): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed to our celebration of the centenary of World Animal Day, and our tribute to the life of artist, poet, author, Animal Liberation founder, and animal rights activist, Christine Townend, at the Planetary Health Centre yesterday. At a packed event we feasted on delicious plant-based food, inspiring art and poetry, and memorable conversations, as we shared our love and respect for the extraordinary world of animals of which we are a part. Join us for further celebrations at our Food Security Fair on Saturday 18 October. Register here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
We`re thrilled to announce that tickets are now on sale for our inaugural Blue Mountains Food Security Fair at the Planetary Health Centre in Katoomba on Saturday 18 October! Register here (link in profile): https://events.humanitix.com/food-security-fair-or-planetary-health-initiative
The day will include stalls, talks and demos about growing, sourcing, cooking, preserving and enjoying plant based food and protecting habitat for wildlife.
Our fabulous line up of speakers and workshop tutors includes Dr Milena Bojovic on the Future of Food; Holly Davis, co-founder of Iku and author of `Ferment`; Michael from Good Fat Pastry; Nev Sweeney from Under the Choko Tree on how to build a Solar Powered Food Dehydrator; Lloyd Sharp from Mid Blue Mountains Seed Savers; Marnee Fox from Forage to Feast; Teya Brooks Pribac from Plant Inspired; and Erin Hall on Weaving with Weeds. Stalls will include EarthRising Mushroom Farm, edible native plants, the Planetary Health Cafe and more. Each session needs to be booked individually as numbers are strictly limited.
This event is being supported by a sEEd grant from the Australian Association for Environmental Education.
This Saturday 4 Oct, on the centenary of World Animal Day, you can meet other people passionate about protecting our wild neighbours, and contribute to restoring habitat for wildlife with them, by coming along and joining our dedicated team of Planetary Health Bushcarers as we regenerate the bushland at the Planetary Health Precinct. Learn more and register to attend (1.30pm) here: (link 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.
