Street Cleansing Operative

Job Description – Street Cleansing Operative

Job Title

Street Cleansing Operative

Department

Street Cleansing & Environmental Services

Location

London Borough of Hounslow

Reports To

Street Cleansing Supervisor / Team Leader

Job Purpose

To deliver high-quality street cleansing and environmental maintenance services across the London Borough of Hounslow, ensuring public highways, footways, town centres, housing estates, parks, and public spaces are maintained to the highest standards of cleanliness and appearance.

The Street Cleansing Operative will undertake a range of cleansing activities including litter picking, sweeping, fly-tip removal, dog fouling and human waste cleansing, weed removal, and rapid response duties. The postholder will contribute to creating a clean, safe, and welcoming environment for residents, businesses, and visitors while promoting pride in the local area.

• Manually sweep streets, footways, cycleways, public spaces, and pedestrianised areas.
• Undertake litter picking and removal of waste from public land, highways, and open spaces.
• Empty public litter bins and remove accumulated waste.
• Clean around litter bins and ensure surrounding areas remain tidy.
• Remove leaves, detritus, mud, grit, and debris from roads and footpaths.
• Maintain designated cleansing routes and locations to contractual standards.
• Assist with deep-cleaning programmes and environmental improvement initiatives.

• Remove dog fouling from streets, footways, parks, housing estates, and public spaces.
• Safely cleanse and remove human waste, bodily fluids, and other biohazardous materials using approved procedures.
• Remove dead animals from highways and public areas in accordance with environmental and health and safety requirements.
• Safely collect and dispose of discarded needles, sharps, and drug-related paraphernalia where trained and authorised.
• Respond to environmental health-related incidents as directed.
• Collect evidence when required to assist enforcement actions.

• Investigate and remove fly‑tipped waste and illegally dumped materials.
• Assist with the loading and disposal of bulky waste items.
• Report hazardous, suspicious, or contaminated waste to supervisors.
• Collect evidence when required to assist enforcement actions.

• Remove weeds from pavements, kerb lines, channels, and hard‑surfaced areas.
• Assist with vegetation clearance affecting pedestrian access and visibility.
• Support works to improve the appearance and cleanliness of the public realm.

• Respond promptly to reactive cleansing requests including:
• Fly‑tipping removal.
• Dog fouling complaints.
• Human faeces and bodily fluid incidents.
• Dead animal removals.
• Litter hotspot clearances.
• Spillages and contaminations.
• Graffiti and fly‑posting removal (where trained).
• Storm and weather‑related debris clearance.
• Emergency cleansing following road traffic accidents and incidents.
• Public health and environmental hazards.

• Comply with all Health & Safety legislation, policies, and safe systems of work.
• Wear and maintain appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
• Follow COSHH regulations when using approved cleaning products and disinfectants.
• Use equipment and tools safely and responsibly.
• Report all accidents, incidents, near misses, and hazards.
• Ensure safe working practices when operating near traffic and members of the public.
• Follow infection control procedures when dealing with biohazards and contaminated materials.

• Use litter pickers, brushes, shovels, barrows, blowers, and other cleansing equipment safely.
• Conduct basic checks on equipment before use.
• Maintain tools and…