VOLUNTEERS from schools. community groups and businesses pulled on the gloves for the annual litter blitz, Clean Up Australia Day, yesterday. 
Close to 8000 volunteers are thought to have taken part in the event in the Northern Territory across 75 registered sites.
It's believed they collected about 165 tonnes of waste.
It was the first year the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association, Darwin, had participated in the nationwide clean-up event.
Site co-ordinator Abdul Bajwa said that despite some inclement weather arriving during the group's barbie after the clean-up, members had enjoyed the day tidying up Jingli Water Gardens.Other groups to take part in the event included Berrimah and Alawa scout groups, Rapid Creek Landcare, Top End Sea Life, Kormilda College, St John's Catholic College and Darwin Sunrise Rotary Club.