Vancouver's waste crews managed World Cup crowds with flying colours
Despite piles of garbage around the PNE fan festival, the city's waste management department says crowd behaviour was positive.
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Vancouver's cleaning crews were out in full force Saturday and Sunday after the city hosted its first of seven FIFA World Cup men's matches, and the city's waste management department says the experience went better than expected.
Despite visible garbage accumulation around the FIFA Fan Festival at the PNE and other hotspots, Jonathan McDermott, director of Vancouver's Solid Waste Management department, credited crowds with responsible behaviour.
"On the routes towards the stadium, we are not seeing people littering on the ground," McDermott said. "I think people are really respectful and carrying their waste to that next receptacle."
The city increased staff and rolled out additional waste receptacles, including recycling bins, in "the last mile" leading to venues. Extra crews were deployed to specific high-traffic areas.
McDermott noted that waste can accumulate between scheduled sweeps, particularly after peak periods or major performances. But once crowds clear—such as when fans left Granville's pedestrian zone—teams were able to conduct major cleanups and have "the place looking shiny and new by 8:00 a.m."
"There's a lot of work and the teams are doing a really great job," he said.
BC Place will host Team Canada and Qatar Thursday, with the FIFA Fan Festival and Granville Street downtown again expecting thousands of celebrating fans.