Street cleansing in the borough is undertaken by Veolia Environmental Services using a number of methods ranging from some of the latest mechanical broom sweeping machines to the traditional barrow beat sweeper.

In addition to the street cleansing service we are also required to carry out street furniture washing, graffiti removal, public convenience cleansing, street scrubbing and market cleansing. Tower Hamlets has 11 Street Markets within its boundary, which is more than any other local authority in England.

There are over 1,500 streets in the borough and we are responsible for cleaning most of them. We sweep main roads, shopping streets and markets every day, with other streets swept at least three times a week. 

The classification of the streets is based on a zonal system, with Zone 1 including the top priority town centres, shopping and transport areas, Zone 2 including the high density residential areas and industrial estates, busy recreational land and suburban transport areas, Zone 3 including low density residential areas and industrial estates and other recreational land and transport centres and Zone 4 being all other areas.

There is also a Zone + system incorporated by Tower Hamlets Council, which refers to intensive cleansing, meaning we provide a constant sweeping presence in the areas the Council deems prominent.