Saubere Zeiten (Clean Times)

In Berlin, rubbish bins, garbage trucks and people wearing orange working clothes are ubiquitous. The municipal waste disposal company (Berliner Stadtreinigung BSR) dominates the urban landscape like no other institution. For almost 100 years, the Berlin refuse collection service has been ensuring clean streets, waste disposal and recycling. As far back as the 18th century, caretakers called "Straßenmeister" were appointed to handle the waste collection. The Clean Times Association has been dealing with this history since 2008. Historical vehicles such as garbage trucks, road sweepers and snowploughs are restored and exhibited. With the help of documents, drawings and photos, the association researches the history of Berlin refuse collection and street cleaning. Changing exhibitions in the listed former BSR main workshop in the Ringbahnstraße tell the story of technologies, vehicles and people involved in waste disposal.