Teams will race to gather and sort as much rubbish as they can at Koombana Bay in Bunbury tomorrow, in the Western Australian debut of SpoGomi, a competitive litter-picking sport invented in Japan. A second event follows at City Beach the next day.
It’s part of Keep Australia Beautiful Week, which runs from Monday to Sunday this week, and brings community clean-ups, school activities, and litter-prevention initiatives to towns across the state. This year’s theme is Beautiful Spaces, Happy Places.
SpoGomi splices the Japanese words for sport and rubbish, and works on a simple premise that teams collect litter within a set area with a time limit, then earn points based on the weight and type of what they gather. It was invented in 2008 and has grown into an international competition with its own World Cup. The Bunbury and Perth events are the first to be held in Western Australia.
“Western Australians care deeply about our environment and Keep Australia Beautiful Week is a fantastic opportunity for everyone to get involved in protecting the places we love,” Environment Minister Matthew Swinbourn said.
“Whether it’s joining a community clean-up, taking part in the new SpoGomi litter pickup competition or simply putting your rubbish in the right bin, every action helps create cleaner, healthier communities.”
On the eve of Keep Australia Beautiful Week, the Cook Government has pointed to a 38% drop in litter across Western Australia since 2022, which it credits to community action and state programs including Containers for Change, the container deposit scheme that pays a refund on eligible drink containers.
“The significant reduction in litter across our State shows what can be achieved when governments, schools, businesses, volunteers and local communities work together,” Swinbourn said.
