ECJ EUROPEAN Cleaning Journal

A new vomit-cleaning vacuum invented in Japan has been helping with the festive clean-up in the country's capital.

Vomit left behind by drunken revellers are a major problem at Tokyo's railway hubs, according to Japanese cleaning firm JR East Environment Access. The company claims that 20 to 30 piles of vomit can be found daily at Shinagawa Station - and this figure rises to around 60 on a Friday night.

Cleaning staff usually envelop the vomit in sawdust to absorb any excess moisture before sweeping it up with a dustpan and brush. The entire area is then sanitised with disinfectant.

However, station users have been complaining that vomit residue often remains visible after a clean-up. So JR East Environment Access has addressed this problem by developing a new vomit vacuum.

This uses a white powder which is claimed to absorb the liquid faster than sawdust. The powder, named Access Clean, is made from a material used in incontinence pads. JR East Environment Access has extracted the material from new, faulty pads that would otherwise have been thrown away and has used it to create a powder that leaves behind no stain and is said to be environmentally friendly.

After the liquid vomit has been absorbed by the powder, the machine vacuums away the residue while a disinfectant is applied.

The company, which cleans more than 400 stations operated by East Japan Railway, will begin taking purchase orders for the new machine from the end of January. Meanwhile, restaurants and bus operators have also registered their interest in acquiring the new machine.