Overnight Cleanup Plan for Downtown London Sparks Debate

The City of London is trying to get a handle on its litter problem in downtown by starting a pilot program that will have contractors cleaning the streets while many residents are still asleep.

On Wednesday, the city issued a request for proposals (RFP) on its bids and tenders portal for overnight cleaning services in the downtown, midtown, and Old East Village areas.

Once a contractor is chosen, they’ll be responsible for picking up garbage, sharps, and biohazardous waste from sidewalks between 11 p. m. and 5 a. m at least five days a week, according to city documents.

“I just moved into an apartment on Richmond Street and just my five-minute walk from work to my house is pretty much disgusting,” said Londoner Wassim Mecheri. “It’s a lot of trash and liquids on the ground. It’s not clean at all, to be honest.”

The city’s director of transportation and mobility, Doug Mac Rae, mentioned there’s been more focus this year on keeping London clean.

The City of London is seeking contractors to provide overnight cleaning services in the downtown, midtown and Old East Village neighbourhoods by the end of summer. (Kendra Seguin/)

The city already has cleaning services operating during the day, he noted, so this new plan would extend cleanup efforts into nighttime hours.

“What we hear from Londoners is that cleanliness and the appearance of our city is important, so we know that if we can keep ahead of the issue … that work will happen more efficiently,” Mac Rae said.

Tara Davies, who owns Dough EV near Dundas and Adelaide in Old East Village, sees cleanliness issues every single day.

“Generally, it’s lots of single-use products, single-use food containers, plastic bags, clothing-anything,” she shared. “We definitely have an issue with people having to relieve themselves outside because they don’t have any other options; so when you get a whole bunch of people urinating or having to defecate in the streets-it’s unpleasant.”

Tara Davies is the owner of cafe and doughnut shop, Dough EV , located near Dundas and Adelaide streets in Old East Village. (Kendra Seguin/)

However, Davies doesn’t expect this overnight cleanup initiative to provide a long-term fix.

“The city is very good at throwing money at symptoms of homelessness , but realistically , they’re going to be cleaning the streets forever,” she stated.

Tackling the Real Problem

Davies believes it’s essential for both the city and province to address what really causes messes on London’s sidewalks-like lack of accessible 24-hour restrooms or potential closures like Carepoint’s consumption site which could lead to more needles being found on streets.

“I think we need to start fixing the actual issue,” she emphasized.

Mac Rae clarified that this overnight cleanup project isn’t specifically tied to events like Carepoint’s closure; rather “dealing with sharps and biohazards is just an ordinary part of work in public spaces.”

<p Londoner Carrie Desjardins feels positive aboutthe city's cleanup plan but wants officials also focusingon homelessnessand addiction issues too.

“Without finding asolutionto that, you’re not finding asolutionto anything,” she remarked.

Deshardins addedthat acleanerdowntown could attractmore peopleto thespace.

“A lackofcleanliness will makepeoplebelieveit’ salso alackofsafety,” shesaid.

“If it’ sunkempt, dirty, andthere’s garbagearoundor even drugparaphernalia.. it deterspeoplefromthedowntowncore.”

Daviesnoted she’sseenthis firsthandat her business.

“Ifit’sreallyunpleasanttowalksomewhere , peoplearen’tgoingtodoit,” shesaid.“Wedefinitelyneedtofind asolution. I’mnot surecleaningovernightisgoingtobethepayoffthatpeoplethink.”

Whataboutthose sleepingrough?

Davies alsoexpressedconcernsoverwhatwillhappenwith Londonerssleepingonthe sidewalksbeing cleanedandpowerwashedovernight.

“Youcan’t sleepwhereit’ wetorwherepeoplearecleaning, but where thesepeoplearegoingtomoveisabiggerquestion. We don’thaveenoughovernightspacesforpeopleonthestreet,” shesaid.Carrie Desjardins works in downtown Londonand says thatwhile shelikes th ecity’splantoaddovernightcleaning, shealsowants th ecitytoaddressitshomelessnessandaddictionchallenges.(Kendra Seguin/)

Mac Rae mentionedthecitywouldfollowthesameproceduresusedduring daytimecleanuptasksstartingat5a. m., byhavingitscoordinatedinformedresponseteamoutto interactwith those sleepingrough.

“It’sto dealwithindividualsrespectfullyandalso gettheworkdoneinthepublicright-of-waythatweneedto,” heexplained.

However, Davies expectedthatwouldlead tomore challengesforbusinessownersin OEVandthedowntownarea.

“Asking apersonto move who’ salreadybeenaskedtomove15timesbeforethatputs yourselfin asituationthatisnotalwayssafeforyourself. Ican’timagine someonewho’sbeenmovedmultipletimesovernightisgoingtofeellike movinginthemorningwhen Ihave topenmy store,”Davies commented.

Thecityacceptsbidsfromcontractorsuntil July10th, and Mac Raesaiditisexpected thata contractorwillbe chosenandbeginworkbytheendofsummer.

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