ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

More than 290 cleaning operatives took to the streets of New York this week.

Their task was to clear up the mess created by the estimated one million revellers who celebrated New Year's Eve in Times Square.

Times Square is where the renowned "ball drop" takes place at 11.59pm precisely. A giant glittering ball descends 43 metres down a flagpole, bringing with it more than 130 kilos of confetti which rains down on the crowds below. The event has been held every year since 1907 apart from two consecutive years - 1942 and 1943 - to observe wartime blackouts.

But the huge quantity of confetti plus other assorted detritus including party hats, streamers, food containers and cigarette ends all needed to be cleaned away swiftly after the festivities. This was achieved with the aid of 30 mechanical brooms, 44 litter trucks, 58 hand brooms and 58 backpack blowers.

The operation takes between 12 and 16 hours to complete according to Paul Visconti who oversees cleaning operations for the New York City Department of Sanitation department.

"It's rewarding to see 50 tons of debris disappear," he said. "It's something short of a miracle what we get accomplished.

"It's not easy because you also have the challenges of weather. But we make it look easy."