Clean Up our Crags- Take3

A few of our rock climbing areas are litter prone, or at risk of illegal dumping. These often reside at suburban fringes and detract from our enjoyment of the natural world. Furthermore, climbers are sometimes blamed for this litter despite frequently cleaning up rubbish on an informal basis or as part of crag care events.  After an Outdoor NSW and ACT masterclass presentation earlier this year, we got in contact with Take3 to partner with them and explore how climbers can help clean up some of our litter-prone climbing areas. 

Take 3 for the Sea campaign aims to reduce litter in waterways and on land.  Take3 and the Environmental Protection agency (EPA) have produced a programme in NSW called Groundswell where organisations and businesses can try and break the litter cycle and clean up the environment by documenting the problem and looking at ways to improve litter-prone areas.  

We have identified a number of such crags and started the programme at two of these after discussion with the land manager (NPWS). So far, assessments using the pro forma and subsequent clean-ups have occurred at Alfords Point in Georges River National Park, Sydney, (see previous article) and more recently Iris Moore Park in Tomaree National Park, at Anna Bay. This cove seems to be a magnet for flotsam.

 

We believe that the benefits of participating in this programme include: 

• Improving the environment at problem crags and identification of preventative measures
• Normalising the practice of "taking 3 for the crag" without feeling the need to declare it on social media if someone has dropped finger tape
• A clean area is less likely to be littered
• Climbers can contemplate their own use of nonrenewable items
• It is a way to form positive links with land managers
• It helps inform people new to the outdoors about Leave no Trace Principles
• It helps the EPA if illegal dumping is reported
• Climbers can consider their own impact regarding discarding fruit peel or egg shells or toileting. Although this matter biodegrades, it takes at least 6 months for a banana skin or orange peel to break down.  We will do a separate article on toileting. 

What is the difference between dumping and littering? 

Litter is anything unwanted that has been thrown, blown or left in the wrong place.

Illegal dumping is the disposal of more than small amounts of waste or litter on land or in water without the correct approvals. 

 

Dumping should be reported to the Environmental Protection Agency via this link:

Report illegal dumping - RIDonline

The EPA has interesting research and reports on the matter if you want to read further.

If you catch anyone in the process of illegally dumping it is appropriate to call the police. 

So how can I help tackle litter? 

Consider taking a small biodegradable bag to collect rubbish in the vicinity of a crag. If it's safe to do so, pick the rubbish up, recycle what you can and dispose of it responsibly.

Keep an eye out for upcoming cleanups in 2025 in George's River National Park.

If you think a one-off clean up will do, consider registering an event with Clean up Australia Day on Sunday March 3, 2025. You will be sent a cleanup kit. 

If one of your local crags is litter prone and you and your friends would like to do something about it, please get in touch via the web form. We need local champions to start and maintain these cleanups. We are very happy to help contact the land manager. Other possible sites we have noted include the base of Mt Gibraltar below the lookout in Mittagong and Popran National Park at Jolls bridge.