Dedicated team keeps mall extension clean
A sanitation worker pushes a road cleaning machine along the newly opened eastern extension of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall.
A sanitation worker washes the street on the newly opened eastern extension of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall on Monday.
A combined approach using advanced road sweeping machines and sanitation workers is ensuring a clean environment on the newly opened eastern extension of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, the city's public sanitation authorities said on Monday.
A variety of tools, such as clamps, rags and small shovels are used to clear different types of trash, are mostly used during the day, the Shanghai Greenery and Public Sanitation Bureau said.
Because stains and dirt are more easily spotted on light-colored tiles of the eastern extension, exclusive detergents are applied, the bureau said.
When night falls, large scale washing is conducted.
During large events such as the ongoing Shanghai Tourism Festival and holidays, flexible cleaning arrangements and schedules will be taken based on visitor traffic, the bureau said.
The target is refined sanitation, it said.
A sanitation worker uses a road sweeping machine on the newly opened eastern extension of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall.
A worker looks out for trash on the newly opened eastern extension of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall.
The extension has a sanitation team of 12 workers in three shifts.
On Monday afternoon, four different types of machines and sweeping vehicles were seen on the road.
"Huge traffic creates a lot of garbage, most from food, and we are cleaning the street 24 hours to ensure a supreme environment," a sanitation worker surnamed Cui told Shanghai Daily.
"We cannot take a rest because the target is waste-free on the eastern extension of the pedestrian mall," she said.
A sanitation worker surnamed Li was cleaning the road with a washing machine.
"We have two such kind of washing machines used on the extension, and it is very efficient in washing away dirt on the street," Li said. "It can reach small areas and corners.
"At night, when there are fewer tourists, we use high pressure flushing vehicles to make the street as clean as possible," he said.
No trash can be seen on the the newly opened eastern extension of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall on Monday.
Two workers clean the newly opened eastern extension of the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall on Monday.
Another sanitation worker surnamed Liu was using a road sweeping machine.
"It is electrically operated, and is easy to use," she said. "In the past, the machine relied on manual operation."
There are six such machines used on the street.
"It can clear small pieces of trash and dust and reach corner areas," Liu said.
The extended section of Nanjing Road E., originally built in 1851 and one of the city's first modern roads, spans 500 meters.
It opened to the public on Saturday.
