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August 8, 2006
Clean Streets pilot launches August 14
A "Clean Streets" lane cleaning, education and enforcement program is planned for the Downtown Eastside from August 14 to September 8. The pilot will initially focus on the four lanes surrounding the intersection of Columbia and Hastings Streets. During the pilot, an extra cleaning sweep of the lanes will be made in addition to the already scheduled sweeps.
The project is meant to tackle the problems of abandoned garbage and overflowing garbage dumpsters, and the accompanying health and safety concerns. Under the City's Solid Waste By-law, it is the responsibility of the businesses who use commercial dumpsters and the hauling companies that own and service those containers to maintain the bins so that they aren't noxious, offensive, or dangerous to public health.
Upon completion of the pilot, the goal is to encourage bin users to take a more active role in maintaining their bins and the area around their bins so that they are cleaner and less noxious.
The Clean Streets Task Force is a joint project of City Sanitation Operations, Solid Waste Management, the Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire and Rescue, Property Use, Health, and Parking Enforcement. The United We Can Bottle Depot is also involved in the pilot planned for the Downtown Eastside.
With the participation of the Vancouver Police Department, the pilot is also an innovative way to address street disorder based on the "broken windows" theory. Simply put, the theory suggests that evidence of decay, like broken windows or accumulated trash, attracts more of the same, alienates people who live and work in the area, and creates an atmosphere that attracts more disorder and vandalism.
Other Clean Streets Task Force initiatives are in place with different communities. Strategies vary from neighbourhood to neighbourhood - for example, Sanitation Operations is piloting a "green machine" sidewalk sweeper in the Granville Mall area.
For more information:
Chris Underwood
Solid Waste Management Engineer
604.873.7992
Joanne Boyle
Sergeant, Vancouver Police Department
604.717.3743
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