Cleaning tasks of local authorities

Cities and local authorities are confronted with many different cleaning and maintenance tasks that have to be managed in the face of shrinking budgets and an increasing skills shortage. In addition, there are regulations and guidelines that must be fulfilled, particularly with regard to sustainability. Flexible machines for everyday use are therefore just as much in demand as solutions for special tasks such as cleaning photovoltaic systems or clearing blocked storm drains. In building cleaning services, the focus is on efficiency in order to achieve the respective cleaning goal as quickly as possible.

Green space maintenance with the implement carrier

A person operating an implement carrier to clean a footpath

Winter service with the implement carrier

Flexibility on the move for a wide range of cleaning tasks

Street cleaning, green space maintenance, winter services – all year round, local authorities have an extensive to-do-list for outdoor spaces. The aim of these tasks is to create a manicured appearance and to ensure road safety. In many cases, it makes sense to invest in multifunctional implement carriers or sweepers that can be converted quickly and easily for the different purposes of use. This is the case whether the tasks are undertaken in-house or whether maintenance and cleaning contracts are awarded to external service providers.

Municipal cleaning with a high-pressure cleaner

A man cleaning photovoltaic systems with a Kärcher cleaning system

The right solutions for weed removal, photovoltaic systems and more besides

In addition to routine jobs, special tasks have to be carried out that cannot be completed with standard equipment. In order to achieve the desired result efficiently, appropriate solutions should be applied, depending on the task. For example, there is now a wide range of options available to tackle the relentless growth of weeds, from hot water and steam to mechanical brushes and even electricity. Photovoltaic systems, on the other hand, can be cleaned of dirt using cleaning systems that combine high-pressure cleaners, disc brushes and telescopic lances. There are also implements for implement carriers that feature brush booms and telescopic washing brushes.

Other application areas may require more extensive adaptation. For example, there is a special superstructure for implement carriers for cleaning storm drains, as well as crawler chassis for use in winter sports resorts or a track guidance system for mowing or weeding near railway tracks.

Two people loading a trailer with Kärcher Outdoor Power Equipment

Focus on sustainability in relation to CO2 emissions, noise pollution and everything in between

Local authorities also increasingly have to fulfil requirements that are geared towards sustainability. For example, depending on the size of the municipality, the Clean Vehicles Directive must be observed in Europe. Across all vehicle classes, it specifies how many carbon-neutral vehicles need to be purchased. Depending on the region, compliance with particulate matter limits must be verified by means of certification.

Another aspect that is becoming increasingly important globally is noise pollution, which is why the impact on the environment must be taken into account just as much as the noise levels inside the cabs of implement carriers or sweepers. Battery-powered tools, from brush cutters to leaf blowers, are very well suited to many tasks within green space maintenance and are often quieter than their fuel-powered alternatives. They also reduce the physical strain on users by minimising vibrations, for example, making them more ergonomic – another factor of growing importance.

Looking inside: building cleaning services

Another task on the to-do-list of local authorities is cleaning inside buildings, from kindergartens to municipal hospitals and even seats of government. Whilst in some settings, cleanliness is a matter of fulfilling the highest hygiene requirements, in others, it is instead necessary to make a building more presentable. Appropriate cleaning concepts and efficient cleaning equipment are central to this.