Blue Mountains SES volunteers put their professional skills to good use at Echo Point for Clean Up Australia Day on Sunday, March 3.
The volunteers collected 10 large bags of rubbish - including mobile phones, a portable stereo, a drone and even a shopping trolley - after scaling down the cliff face.
A team of 22 volunteers then worked at the base of Echo Point where they filled 22 large bags. The haul they uncovered included a washing machine, several shopping trolleys, street signs and two beer kegs.
While the rubbish from the cliff face was taken to Katoomba tip, the bags of rubbish were packed and will be airlifted by National Parks later this year.
“Sadly, the greatest amount of rubbish collected was plastic water bottles and food wrappers at the top," said Jimmy Carothers, Blue Mountains SES Unit deputy field co-ordinator.
“Our members worked hard to collect as much rubbish as we could so next year we can focus on another area in the Blue Mountains.”
Blue Mountains City Council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service worked with the SES to make the operation a success. The SES also had support from local businesses including Mitre 10 Katoomba and Mitre 10 Blackheath. Tunks Landscape Supplies provided a large amount of shade cloth to cover the bags at the base until NPWS can remove the rubbish later this year.