Getting to know … Luis Martins, CDA’s Janitorial Operative

CDA’s Cleaning Team work on the ground across Holborn and Clerkenwell, ensuring a vibrant and welcoming district for all who live, work and visit the area. This month, we sat down with Luis Martins to talk about his role at CDA. Read on for Luis Martins’ tips on keeping our area clean and tidy!

Q: How long have you been working at CDA?
A: I started in October 2020, so I’ve been working here for 4 and a half years.

Q: What does a typical day look like as part of the street team and how might this change throughout the year?
A: I typically pick up the van at 6:30am and drive straight to Barbican for 7am, which is the most easterly edge of our district boundary. My supervisor gives me tasks depending on cleaning reports throughout the day, using the Strata app. 

I clean everything you see on the streets, including the bins from the outside, in. I work across the whole district, cleaning all the main routes and streets until 4pm and log my progress throughout the day, taking photos before and after at each location. I’m really familiar with all the local landmarks and I give directions to people I see out and about, especially around Tottenham Court Road, as everybody asks for the British Museum! 

It’s definitely busier in the summer, as there are so many tourists in this part of central London. A big part of my role is jet washing and these are more regular in the summer, to maintain the cleanliness of our pavements. 

Q: Are there any technologies that have made a significant difference to your work?
A: I love jet washing the most, it’s so satisfying! The machine has been recently upgraded and the new pressure is perfect for cleaning tougher areas.

Q: What message would you like to share with people who live, work or visit the area, about the importance of keeping it clean?
A: Keeping our streets clean is so important for safety and the quality of life of everyone in the area. Most people are environmentally conscious and say thank you, but that’s so important that everyone has this mindset! We all need to do our bit – use the local bins, that’s what they’re there for.

Thank you, Luis Martins, for going above and beyond to ensure that we all have a clean and safe environment. For more information on our security team and their role, please visit CDA’s Community Safety project page.