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Chinese cities weigh street dust in cleanliness drive

Cleaners risk losing their jobs if more than a specified amount of dust is found within a square metre on streets

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Inspectors weigh dust on streets in Xian, Shaanxi, to keep up with new cleaning standards. Photo: Handout
Sarah Zhengin Beijing

The cleanliness of streets in a Chinese city is now being weighed – literally – by how much dust there is.

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Street cleaners in Xian, the capital of Shaanxi province, have been told to keep the level of dust on the road below certain quotas, or face fines and possible termination, the China News Service reported.

The government’s cleaning standards – rolled out in a trial scheme in early February – dictate that dust on the street not exceed 5 grams, 10 grams, 15 grams, or 20 grams per square metre depending on the street, which are classified under four categories based on congestion and the urban environment.

“The new road cleanliness standards make the evaluation process more intuitive, increases the quality of cleaning, and streamlines cleaning operations,” Lan Yougang, director of sanitation for the city’s Baishulin Residential District, was quoted as saying.

He added that roads have gotten noticeably cleaner since the standards were imposed nearly two months ago.

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A city official said the streets had become noticeably cleaner after the standards were imposed. Photo: Handout
A city official said the streets had become noticeably cleaner after the standards were imposed. Photo: Handout
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