Comment & Contents
Eastern promise fulfilled
Some of you may have seen the recent TV series on BBC where comedian Sue
Perkins travels to Japan. In the first episode, she mentions more than once just how
clean, tidy and orderly Japan is, with no litter or grime visible in public places.
Having recently returned from a holiday to Japan myself, I too found myself
wondering at the litter-free streets – especially as there are very few litter bins
about.
When I asked a tour guide about this, they told me that public waste bins
were largely removed from Japanese cities following the Tokyo subway sarin
attack in 1995. The attack was an act of domestic terrorism that killed 13
people and injured thousands more.
Since then, the lack of bins has forced residents to adopt some of the world's
more disciplined waste disposal techniques.
For example, in accordance with modern Japanese custom I soon got used to
taking a plastic bag out with me, filling it with my rubbish throughout the
day, and taking it home to dispose of it.
According to the tour guide, the lack of bins actually helps to keep the cities
clean as, if there were bins, they would probably become overfull, and
overflow into the streets.
Aside from its clean streets, Japan is probably better known worldwide for its
cleanliness and hygiene when it comes to hi-tech toilets. The toilets I’m
talking about have bidet functions, heated toilet seats, privacy music, wipes
and gel for sanitising the seats, and more, all controllable from a panel on the
toilet. But perhaps the most interesting thing that struck me was that these
toilets were not just to be found in five star hotels and restaurants. They were
in many public toilets in train stations, shopping malls and on regular streets.
And another thing – Japan has a lot of public toilets. Coming from the UK,
where we’ve been witnessing the widespread closure of public toilets for years,
it was refreshing to find them everywhere and not have to hunt around for
one – whether you were halfway up Mount Fuji, in the middle of a beautiful
bamboo grove in Kyoto, shopping in downtown Tokyo or using the efficient
public transport system.
It certainly helped to make a jam-packed holiday of travelling around the
country stress-free. And not only that, the public conveniences really do
contribute to making you feel welcome in a country known for its hospitality
and considerate nature – attributes that will no doubt bring Japan many more
fans of its own as it hosts the Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics.
Find more like this at: www.cleaning-matters.co.uk 3
Catherine Hackett
Editor
Features
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Numatic looks at what's next for vacuum cleaners now that the
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Emergency Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Lanes Group tells us why drain maintenance is now an all-year-round
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Sustainable Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Monthind Clean looks at the importance of sustainable facilities
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plastic solutions can help to combat climate change
Street Cleaning, Graffiti, and Gum Removal . . . . . . .42
Rentokil Specialist Hygiene presents a guide to graffiti cleaning;
and Eco Removal Systems explains why chewing gum removal
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Contract Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
The Cleaning Company examines the impact of a clean working
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Products
Floorcare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Health, Safety & Welfare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Industrial Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Sustainable Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Washroom Hygiene . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Industry Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Equipment & Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Regulars
News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
ISSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Contract Cleaning Insider . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
BICSc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Cover story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Sponsored Columns
Denis Rawlins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
SEBO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
ICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Diversey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
GOJO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Editor: Catherine Hackett ...................................chackett@progressive-media.co.uk
Managing Editor: Simon Duddy ......................................................sduddy@western-bp.co.uk
Managing Director: Mark Sennett .................................................msennett@western-be.co.uk
Editorial Support: Louise Carter..............................................lcarter@progressive-media.co.uk
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Studio Manager: Danny Kosifou
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