A street cleaning machine in Novosibirsk is under scrutiny after video footage showed it expelling dust back onto the streets it was supposed to be cleaning. The incident occurred on Sibiryakov-Gvardeytsev Street, raising concerns among residents about the effectiveness of the cleaning operation.

A local resident, Stanislav, captured the scene on video, describing the machine as resembling “a vacuum cleaner that is full.” He noted that the machine was collecting dust from the road but simultaneously releasing it back onto the sidewalk, creating a dust cloud.

In response to the concerns, the Novosibirsk Mayor’s Office clarified the operating principle of the communal vacuum cleaning machine. According to the Kirovsky District Administration, the equipment is designed to suck up dirt from the roadway using special brushes, with the collected debris settling in a storage bunker. The air used for suction is then expelled through dust-retaining filters.

The city officials maintain that the use of such equipment actually reduces dust pollution. The city also uses other methods such as watering and washing the streets, but wet cleaning is prioritized on main streets. Chemical detergents are not used in the process, according to the Mayor’s office.