How do you design a sustainable cleaning service that does more than just keep the Central City streets shipshape?
Problem: Due to the high demand for cleaning and maintenance work in the CBD, the CCID – funded in full by the property owners of this geographical area – provide a top-up service to the cleaning and solid waste management services provided by the City of Cape Town. But how do you design a sustainable cleaning service that does more than just keep the Central City streets shipshape?
Solution: A service system that, through collaboration, helps maintain the streets of the CBD and provide jobs and skills training, while still being economically viable.
How it works: This is a joint collaboration between the CCID Urban Management team headed up by Richard Beesley; cleaning contractor J&M Cleaning Services; Straatwerk, an entry-level skills training NGO; and the City of Cape Town.
While two CCID precinct managers walk the streets daily and report any defects or maintenance issues, 53 J&M staff are employed in two staggered shifts from 08h00 to 17h00 and 20h00 to 05h00 to keep the streets of the CBD litter free.
This cleaning effort is supplemented by Straatwerk, who assist people struggling to find work or living on the street by offering basic employment. As they learn routine and reliability, these people are then able to advance within the organisation, going on to join the technical and maintenance teams on a longer-term or full-time basis, or move onto other employment.
At the end of 2012, three members of Straatwerk passed their proficiency test for a year-long learnership at J&M, giving them an opportunity to further their careers in a professional environment.
Tools of the cleaning trade
The CCID is also always on the lookout for new ways to win the war on waste. Here are some of the new gadgets that the CCID will be employing over the course of the next few months.
My Ash Box: 35 000 pocket-sized, portable ashtrays will be distributed free of charge in the CBD. These pouches are a clean and safe way to dispose of your cigarette butts and seal in any odour until you can clean them out at an appropriate place.
Butt bins: 250 new concrete cigarette bins will be distributed throughout the CBD. The new four-sided bins have been redesigned to be more robust and easily identifiable – so you don’t miss them or walk into them by accident.
The super sweeper: The CCID has acquired several Haaga 447 sweepers, a manual sweeper with an additional roller brush for fine particles to ensure you pick up every last little bit of dirt. The sweeper can quickly and thoroughly sweep up almost everything from wet leaves to beverage cans, and is available from local firm Industroclean (021 762 8152).
This article first appeared in the February 2013 issue of City Views. Read it online.
Words: Alma Viviers
Photo: Lisa Burnell