Hackney Hosts International Spogomi: Litter-Picking Goes Competitive

Hackney Marshes played host to a unique international event at the end of July: the UK edition of the Spogomi World Cup, a competitive litter-picking tournament that combines environmental action with athletic intensity.

Spogomi—short for “sport-gomi” (gomi meaning rubbish in Japanese)—originated in Japan and has grown into a global phenomenon. This year’s event in Hackney followed Britain’s victory at the 2023 World Cup in Tokyo, where teams from 21 countries competed to collect the most litter within a set time.

While the reigning UK champions couldn’t compete for the title again, they joined in for fun. They describe Spogomi as surprisingly tough, combining rapid walking, awkward lifting, and constant squatting.

Beyond the sport, the event carried a serious message about Britain’s litter problem. Participants noted how Spogomi shifts awareness, making once-ignored rubbish suddenly visible everywhere. Organisers hope its growing popularity will inspire more people to see litter-picking not just as civic duty—but as an engaging, community-driven sport.

Among the competitors were representatives from Harrow Litter-Pickers. This is a large and fast-growing charity who take pride in cleaning up their local area and are collecting over 1000 bags of litter every month. Members of this group say that they find the exercise and community spirit invigorating, while also expressing their love and care for their community spaces. Is this something we could consider for Hackney?