Seven new generation machinesfor the cleaning of anarchic graffiti from the walls of the capital, the Municipality of Athens has, which can remove not only the most difficult cases of graffiti, but also remove chewing gum stuck to walls and surfaces.

The seven vans of new technology, which are staffed by suitable trained staffwill “sweep” the center and the neighborhoods of Athens -one per municipal community-, thus strengthening the efficient cleanliness of the city.

In his statement, the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis, emphasized: “Today, we are taking another step forward in the field of cleanliness. By investing in new, state-of-the-art equipment, we continue the effort to erase the city’s ugliness, anarchic graffiti and smudging. Athens with design, new technology and now with valuable experience is becoming day by day cleaner, more beautiful, more humane”.

The vehicles are equipped with modern de-smearing machines, with a method that allows any material of vegetable or mineral origin to be released in solid form. The specific machines provide the possibility of using even hot air – steam, at a temperature that reaches 120°C. In this way, surfaces such as marble or stone are effectively cleaned of dirt to which they have been exposed for years.

In the center and neighborhoods of Athens, 59 long-term operations have been carried out to date, which resulted in the cleaning of more than 52,000 sq.m. on stone, marble and glass surfaces, on shop columns and shutters, on buildings and walls.

At the end of each operation, the cleaning services of the municipality apply a special anti-graffiti film to each point with the aim of both maintenance and easy removal of the smear in case of new vandalism.

Citizens can contact the “1595” line or the Novoville online platform to report spots in public spaces (squares, pedestrian streets, parks, etc.) that need to be cleaned of unsightly graffiti.