SpoGomi, the competitive litter-picking sport born in Japan in 2008, is spreading to European towns, with teams collecting hundreds of kilograms of rubbish in single afternoon events.
What happened
SpoGomi blends the English word sport with the Japanese word for litter, gomi, turning rubbish collection into a timed team competition.
A recent event in Loughborough saw 281 kilograms of rubbish cleared from the town centre in a single afternoon.
Teams compete to collect and sort litter across five categories within a time limit, with points for quantity and correct sorting.
The sport has spread from Japan internationally as sports clubs use it as a community activity.
Why it is good news
Turning a chore into a competition is one of the most effective ways to change behaviour at scale. SpoGomi makes environmental action playful and social.
Source: Rest Less