Cleanliness reflects the city’s dedication to sustainability, public health, and the quality of life of its citizens. While many cities continue to struggle to keep their areas clean and healthy, these cities show that it is possible to ensure cleanliness in the continuously developing world.
The top 10 cleanest cities
1. Hamburg, Germany
Hundreds of canals cross the city, which contains large areas of parkland. Hamburg is a green city with waterways, public gardens, tree-lined streets, and suburban parks. Hamburg’s goal by 2050 is to reduce CO2 emissions by 80 percent.
In addition, Hamburg’s plan to create “The Green Network” is shaping the city’s identity. Aiming to eliminate the need for cars to travel the city, Hamburg has publicized the plan, with its tourist spots accessible in the city center.
2. Calgary, Canada
Calgary is located between the Rocky Mountains and prairies of Canada. It is in western Canada and is relatively free of tourists. Calgary invested in the best wastewater purification system and has heavily reduced the amount of landfill waste.
Additionally, the city has imposed fines for those who drop cigarette butts or throw their trash out of car windows. Calgary’s “Green Calgary” initiative promotes a greener lifestyle. By 2025, the city aims to reduce its landfill waste by 70 percent.
3. Honolulu, Hawaii
As the state capital, Honolulu serves as the hub for all state financial operations and is a significant venue for major political and cultural gatherings. Honolulu’s locals show citizen consciousness by keeping the city clean. Locals understand the need to maintain clean beaches, safeguard sensitive habitats, and preserve both terrestrial and aquatic animals.
Additionally, Honolulu has one of the lowest year-round particle levels and neither high ozone nor high particle pollution days.
4. Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is a metropolis with almost 2 million residents. The city is well-structured, perfectly functioning, and possesses the highest level of services. Copenhagen has many cyclists, highlighting the eco-friendly transportation because of its extensive network of bike lanes and pedestrian-friendly streets.
In addition, the Copenhagen government has made substantial investments in sewage treatment that has improved water quality, reducing water and air pollution. They also have facilities that make recycling and sorting for residents fun. Copenhagen also has special areas where people can freely exchange and donate old items.
5. Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki, the capital of Finland, is situated in the Gulf of Finland. Among the factors contributing to the city’s reputation for cleanliness is its location, which is far from major European cities. This means a reduction of emissions from long-distance pollution transit.
Additionally, they made many changes to make the city greener. Residents have welcomed this idea by switching to motorcycles in place of cars. There are over 1,500 kilometers (900 miles) of bike lanes in Helsinki. By 2025, the city also hopes to make owning a car obsolete.
6. Singapore
Singapore is the world’s only island city-state. It is known for its strict environmental and cleanliness regulations. The city’s well-kept parks, spotless streets, and strong recycling program contribute to its excellent reputation.
Singapore has planted many trees as part of its efforts to enhance the quality of life. Additionally, the city has also set aside nearly 10 percent of its territory for parks and nature reserves.
7. Kobe, Japan
Located near Osaka, Kobe has a population of 1.5 million citizens. The city is known as the cleanest city in Japan with its one-sided coast and mountain.
Kobe has implemented one of the most effective trash disposal systems globally. The locals take great care of the environment, making the streets constantly clean. Despite being a vast metropolis, the city offers plenty of pleasant green spaces for relaxation.
8. Adelaide, Australia
Adelaide is South Australia’s capital, located between Lofty Mountain and the St. Vincent Gulf. This vibrant city is well-known for its wide boulevards, green parks, and clean shores.
Adelaide’s numerous recycling programs and green initiatives show the city’s dedication to sustainability and conservation. Additionally, 85 percent of Adelaide’s waste is recycled.
9. Zurich, Switzerland
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland, and it is located in the north-central part of the country. The city has the Civil Engineering and Disposal Department, which faces the significant burden of gathering almost 30,000 garbage bags. This dedicated team works nonstop to maintain 1,080 kilometers (648 miles) of walkways and 737 kilometers (445 miles) of public roadways spotless.
In their quest for a clean urban environment, the team thoroughly cleaned every stop on Zurich’s public transportation system. The city is also known for its continuing development of environmentally friendly public transit, the expansion of its dedicated bicycle network, research, its initiatives around renewable energy, and the enclosure of speedways.
10. Curitiba, Brazil
Curitiba is located south of São Paulo and is the greenest city in the country. The city’s government allows citizens to trade bags of segregated trash for food or bus tokens to encourage people to keep the city clean. Additionally, the schools have also added “environmental education” to their curriculum.
Discovering the beauty of cleanest cities
The top 10 cleanest cities in the world show that environmental sustainability and urban development may coexist. These places have established the standard for clean and livable urban settings through creative legislation, active community involvement, and a dedication to green practices.
