Cleaning Up Outback
The vast deserts, picturesque beaches, and winding rivers of outback Australia are places of unique beauty, but for Boe Langford, these landscapes are more than just places to admire — they are his passion. Langford has made it his life's mission to preserve Australia’s natural beauty by removing rubbish from its remote regions.
As the founder of the not-for-profit charity Outback Cleanups Australia (OCA), Langford has dedicated years of his time and energy to cleaning up some of the country’s most isolated areas. His journey from carpenter to environmental crusader has been driven by his love for Australia’s remote regions. “I absolutely love the outback,” Langford says with unbridled enthusiasm. “Being out in that environment is completely inspiring for me. Australian landscapes are globally unique, and it’s so important to look after it. I’m going to strive towards doing that for as long as I can.”
Langford’s connection to nature can be traced back to his childhood. Growing up in outback regions of Australia, Boe developed an early love for adventure and exploration. He saved his pocket money to buy a minibike, which opened up new frontiers for him to explore. But even in those early days, Langford was struck by a problem that would later define his purpose. “I have a memory from when I was about five years old,” he recalls. “I was standing, looking out at a stunning vista, seeing the ocean, and then looking down at my feet and seeing rubbish. Something in my mind said, ‘This is not right; it should not be here.’ That really struck a chord with me. We have bins for a reason, and this stuff shouldn’t be polluting our natural spaces.”
A seed was planted in Langford’s mind, and over time it grew as he became inspired by figures like Steve Irwin, whose enthusiasm for conservation left a lasting impression on Langford. “The way Irwin approached conservation with passion and enthusiasm has always stayed with me,” Langford says. “Watching that as a kid, I was really captivated.”
Despite his early passion for the outdoors, Langford initially followed a more conventional path, becoming a carpenter. However, a serious back injury forced him to give up his trade. It was a life-altering moment, but instead of allowing it to defeat him, Langford turned to his other passion—cleaning up the Australia environment. “I was a carpenter for six years before the accident made me redundant,” he explains. “So, I turned to what I love to do: cleaning up Australia. I already had the equipment, the knowledge, and of course, the passion. I started using cleanups as part of my rehabilitation, and that snowballed into Outback Cleanups Australia.”
What began as a personal project quickly evolved into something much larger. Langford saw a gap in large-scale remote cleanups and stepped up. “One of the things that encouraged me to start OCA was that there were no not-for-profit or government organisations doing large-scale remote cleanups,” Langford says. “So, we started one.”
Founded in 2019, OCA has since removed more than 77,000kg of rubbish from Australia’s most remote environments. Langford's work has taken him to places few people venture, but rubbish seems to find its way. It’s in these areas that Boe and his team tackle the massive task of collecting and disposing of waste that pollutes the outback, beaches, and waterways. His goal is not just to clean up these places but to inspire others to take pride in their environment. “We don’t do this to get rich or famous,” Langford says. “We do this because it needs to get done. Outback Cleanups Australia is a job that no one wants to do, but someone needs to put their hand up, and I’m willing to be that person.”
A key component of Langford’s ability to carry out his work comes from his partnership with Yamaha Motor Australia. Through its Rightwaters initiative YMA has provided Langford with the reliable tools he needs to access remote locations and tackle cleanups more efficiently. In 2022, Yamaha donated a new F9.9 outboard engine for Langford’s dinghy, allowing him to navigate waterways and collect more rubbish than ever before. The partnership has since expanded to include an EF2000iS inverter/generator to power Langford’s equipment in the field as well as support of an F60 for his trailer-boat based in Adelaide. “Having Yamaha reliability has given us the confidence to tackle even bigger clean-up tasks,” Langford explains. “The assistance of companies like Yamaha Motor Australia—with its well-planned Long-Term Vision and a strong commitment to its Sustainable Development Goals—means I’m confident we can continue to make a difference.”
The support from Yamaha has been a game-changer for OCA. The rugged Australian outback is no place to experience mechanical failure, and Langford’s work often takes him to areas far from civilisation, where reliability and safety are paramount. “If you break down in the bush, it’s deserted,” he says. “There’s no phone signal, limited water. If you can’t get out, you really are in a bad situation. Having the peace of mind knowing that Yamaha is with us is essential to getting the job done.”
With the help of Yamaha Motor Australia, Langford has been able to expand his efforts. He now targets larger projects like the Murray-Darling Basin. The reliable power of the EF2000iS allows him to work longer and more efficiently, while the F9.9 outboard enables him to access hard-to-reach areas.
For Langford, the work of Outback Cleanups Australia goes beyond simply picking up rubbish—it’s about restoring the natural beauty of the country and ensuring that future generations can enjoy it as much as he does. “What drives me is seeing Australia restored to its natural beauty,” Langford says. “At the moment, you come to the outback to see some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, and that beauty is being taken away by the rubbish. Our focus is to remove that and restore it.”
His message to Australians is clear: everyone has a role to play in keeping the country clean. “As a population that loves to go bush, we have an obligation to society to pick up any rubbish we see, regardless of who placed it there. If everyone pitches in and does their little bit, that will be world changing.”
Through Outback Cleanups Australia, Boe Langford is making a difference, one cleanup at a time, with the help of companies like Yamaha Motor Australia and the support of people who, like Langford, believe in the importance of preserving Australia’s wild beauty.
Boe Landford’s plan to keep Australia looking its best for future generations is the focus of the eighth #UnitedByYamaha short film, Cleaning Up Outback.
To learn more about the work being carried out by Boe Langford and Outback Cleanups Australia, and to find out how your small contribution can make a big difference, visit the Outback Cleanups Australia web page or follow Outback Cleanups Australia via their official social media channels via the following links: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
