The History of Road Cleaning

Used throughout every season and in every city, road cleaning is a necessary service that is in demand. The practice of keeping roads clean has evolved alongside the evolution of civilization. In this article, The A & G Road Cleaners team investigates how road cleaning has changed over time.

During ancient civilizations, the task of road cleaning was fulfilled by members throughout each community. Inspired by the need to enable carts and pedestrians to pass through streets with ease, road cleaning was primarily done to remove twigs and any dirt for pedestrians to commute with ease. In ancient Rome, tools such as twigs, poles and sticks were used to create street-sweeping brooms.

The advancement of urban cities and rapid growth of trade industries created greater importance on road cleaning during the Middle Ages. During this time, governments within each urban city created and hired street cleaning teams that would tend to each urban environment to maintain the street's cleanliness, aesthetic and promote the booming marketplace.

The Industrial Revolution introduced road cleaning and street sweeping technology and tools into the marketplace. Rather than using brooms to sweep city streets clean, professional road cleaning teams started using mechanical sweepers which remained as the main technology for street sweeping teams throughout the 19th century. As opposed to brooms, the machinery used for road cleaning during the Industrial Revolution enabled streets to be cleaned more efficiently, by removing all dirt, waste and debris from roadways.

During the 20th century, the technical advancements of road cleaning machinery that were introduced during the Industrial Revolution gained speed. The days of traditional road cleaning became a distant memory during the 20th century as professional street sweeping teams began utilizing motorized brushes, vacuums and sweepers. With the advancement of technology came the evolution of waste management systems and the need for environmentally friendly programs throughout each urban city.

When looking towards the future, professional street sweeping and Road Cleaning practices will continue to have a focus on environmentally friendly programs. From biodegradable cleaning agents to eco-friendly road cleaning methods, municipalities will continue to focus their road cleaning practices on sustainability and efficiency.

For over 25 years, our family-owned and operated Toronto power sweeping, street sweeping and road cleaning services have established themselves as customer-first - without you, there would be no business after all.

Led by our friendly and knowledgeable staff, we've grown into one of the largest street-sweeping companies in Toronto, outfitted with industry-leading street sweepers, road-cleaning equipment, and infrastructure to manage any municipal or commercial job. For more information on Road Cleaning and A & G, contact us today!