Online 'dustup' over cleaning standards in Xi'an

Yang Guang China Plus Published: 2017-04-26 16:28:59
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A cleaner sweeps the street in Xi'an on Apr. 25, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

A cleaner sweeps the street in Xi'an on Apr. 25, 2017. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

A new street cleaning standard issued by the municipal government in Shaanxi's provincial capital, Xi'an, is stirring up a lot of discussion online.

Under the new system, streets in Xi'an are categorized into four levels. "Level-one" streets can't have dust exceeding 5 grams per square meter, "level-two" 10-grams, "level three" 15-grams and "level four" 20-grams.

The inspector collects the dust within the one-square-meter area. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The inspector collects the dust within the one-square-meter area. [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Inspectors measure the street dust regularly to check street cleaners' work. To do so, they enclose a one square meter of area with four sticks and collect the dust inside with a fine brush, then weigh it. This is done in three random areas along the streets.

The collected dust [Photo: Chinanews.com]

The collected dust [Photo: Chinanews.com]

Local officials insist the new regulations help ensure streets in Xi'an are clean, noting similar programs have also been implemented in the provinces of Shandong and Hebei, as well as Chongqing Municipality.

The collected dust is being weighed to examine the street cleaner's work. [The inspector collects the dust within the one-square-meter area. [Photo: Chinanews.com]]

The collected dust is being weighed to examine wheter the street cleaner's work is up to standard. [The inspector collects the dust within the one-square-meter area. [Photo: Chinanews.com]]

However, a debate is underway about the fairness of such a program, given that local street cleaners' salaries are tied to the results of the inspections.

Some netizens note the street cleaners often work long hours already, and are likely to receive any extra bonus for working long hours to ensure their streets meet standards.

One street cleaner, a 62-year year old, claims he is forced to work from 4am to 6pm almost daily to ensure his street meets standards, even though it's a "level four" street.

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