Jenny Duggan will be doing her part at the event on Sunday, building on a 25-year effort to get litter off the streets of Katherine.

She said her focus started on collecting litter by the river before more people got interested in cleaning up the town streets.

Mrs Duggan said awareness about the environment and waste has grown in Katherine and the town is much cleaner as a result.

"My friend and I used to do a morning walk and if we saw any cans we'd pick them up," she said.

"The town looks pretty good... over the years it's got better and better... we've gone from watching rubbish flow down the river to nothing down there at all.

"I'm sort of retired from the rubbish pick up now."

Mrs Duggan said there are still litter "hot spots" in Katherine, such as the Visitor Information Centre, and urged people to get their family involved to keep the improvement going for future generations.

Despite the improvements, Mrs Duggan said she expects to fill up to six large bags with litter this Sunday, although she will be starting early.

"Just out and about for about five hours... I'm up prior because the weather's going to be hot."

Katherine Town Council will be hosting Clean Up Australia Day and is urging people to get registered as a volunteer.

People can also register on the day, the event will start at the CBD Town Square and will run from from 8:30am - 12pm.

KTC said gloves and bags will be provided and there will be a free sausage sizzle to thank all the volunteers.

Mrs Duggan also backed a push by Katherine's cinema operator to put the town forward for a tidiness award.

Greg Harmer said Katherine can win the Tidy Towns award run by Keep Australia Beautiful, if the community pulls together and works towards it.

"I'd love to see it... I'd be well and truly prepared to back Greg up and support his application," Mrs Duggan said.

"If he wants a monthly clean up, get the schools behind it and people in general behind it."

She said people can take part in a litter effort outside Clean Up Australia Day and called for people to pick up three pieces of rubbish every day.

"Wherever they see it, just take pride in where they live," she said.

"It doesn't hurt to pick up three pieces of rubbish, just little things go a long way really."

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