The upkeep of a city such as Shanghai with tens of millions of residents is a huge job! Numerous uniformed city workers perform daily tasks to keep the city clean. I am going to focus on the cleaning of litter and leaves in the city.
Shanghai streets are fairly clear of litter thanks to the people who sweep the streets and use metal grabbers to pick up garbage. In addition, during this time of year when there are lots of leaves on the ground, I've seen many uniformed city workers sweeping them up with bamboo brooms. Shanghai is a large city with lots of trees. These trees have big leaves, some as large as my head, that land on the streets during the seasonal transition to fall. All these leaves lying around make the city look messy and it can also be dangerous for pedestrians as they could slip on the. So, I am grateful for the city workers, who wear matching blue or grey shirts and pants, that help keep this city clean and safe.
It is important for cities to be cleared of garbage and litter for public health reasons. Similarly, cleaning and disposal of leaves is important for maintaining a cleaner environment and safe pathways for people to walk and play on. If leaves were left out for a long time in rain and snow they would decompose and the streets would become slushy and slippery.
