Street cleaner

Street cleaners collect litter from the street and other public areas. They generally use hand tools such as brushes and brooms, or they drive a motorised sweeper, to collect the rubbish.

Also known as:

• Public realm operative
• Road sweeper
• Street cleansing operative

Work activities

Street cleaners keep our roads and public areas clear of litter. They collect waste from public bins and use brushes and shovels to clear up messy and dirty areas. They usually work in a team, cleaning up one part of a town or city. They might also be called street cleansing operatives. Sometimes they use automatic, hand-operated cleaning machines to clean pavements and roadside gutters. They might also drive sweepers from a small cab. In parks and green areas, they brush up fallen leaves and other natural waste and use litter-picking tools to collect discarded paper. They put the refuse into sacks and might use a van to transport these to a waste disposal site, for treatment by other operatives.

Street cleaners are sometimes called on to help with other cleaning tasks. In a public toilet, they might clean basins, toilets and floors. They could also help to remove graffiti from walls. They could be involved in hot washing and removing chewing gum from pavements. Street cleaners might have to keep simple records, like vehicle mileage reports. They also have to keep their machinery and vehicles clean. Some street cleaners help to clear ice and snow in winter by spreading grit or chemicals on to pavements and roads. They sometimes work in a team to clean streets after events such as carnivals, festivals, races or parades.

Personal qualities and skills

As a street cleaner, you need:

• To feel comfortable working outdoors in all kinds of weather.
• To work well on your own, unsupervised.
• To be reliable and use common sense to overcome any cleaning problems.
• To be prepared to “get your hands dirty”; the work can be messy.
• To be able to work to a routine.
• Fitness, to cope with bending and lifting.
• A basic understanding of the machinery you’ll operate.
• Awareness of safe working practices.
• To get on with all sorts of people.

Pay and opportunities  

Street cleaners earn in the range of £18,000-£21,000 a year.

Street cleaners work 36-38 hours, Monday to Friday, with early starts and occasional weekend work. Overtime is usually available. Weekend working might be on a rota basis.

Employers are local authorities and private contractor cleaning firms. Opportunities for street cleaners occur in towns and cities throughout the UK.

Where are vacancies advertised?

Vacancies are advertised in local newspapers, and on the Government’s Find a Job service. Vacancies might also be advertised on the websites of local authorities and specialist recruitment agencies, and on the LGJobs website.

Entry routes and training

You normally enter this career directly. To operate sweeping vehicles, you must be at least 18 years old. Some local authorities may offer intermediate apprenticeships in this role.

Training is on-the-job. You normally work with an experienced person until you are familiar with the job. Local authorities and large companies might provide formal induction courses for new employees, covering subjects such as health and safety. You might be able to work towards certificates and diplomas in cleaning and support services skills at levels 1 and 2. The British Institute of Cleaning Science (BICSc) offers the level 1 certificate in cleaning, and the cleaning professional’s skills suite (CPSS). City & Guilds offers a level 2 Award in cleaning principles (manual or mechanical street cleaning).

Street cleaners can progress to become team leaders or take on managerial positions. Some street cleaners move into other areas of local environmental and council service jobs such as waste services management.

Qualifications

If you wish to enter this career through an intermediate apprenticeship, you will need to be 16 with GCSEs in English and maths, although you may be able to complete these qualifications while undertaking your apprenticeship.

You’ll need a full, clean driving licence if you operate sweeping vehicles, and for the largest vehicles you might need a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) licence. To operate sweeping vehicles, you must be at least 18 years old.

Adult opportunities

Age limits: Age limits might apply to this role. To operate sweeping vehicles, you must be at least 18 years old.

Some applicants have gained relevant practical skills and abilities through work involving using their hands.

Related careers

• Civil enforcement officer
• Cleaner – domestic
• Cleaner – industrial
• Groundsperson
• Refuse collector
• Road worker
• Window cleaner