Waste disposal in ancient Rome

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In ancient Rome , the disposal of rubbish in public spaces was the job of the aediles , whose responsibility was divided between two subordinate authorities. Their main task was to inspect streets and squares for their condition and to make homeowners who neglected the cleaning of their street fronts aware of it and to ask them to clean them. If someone did not comply with this request, the authorities were authorized to commission a contractor to do the cleaning at the homeowner's expense.

However, it is unclear where and how the waste was disposed of. However, one cannot speak of continuous waste disposal as it is today. Most of the rubbish was washed away via the sewer system , which was present in almost every major city.

In contrast to Pompeii , where a number of private houses were also connected to the public sewer system, Rome had a less good sewage system. The Cloaca Maxima and six other large sewers had an efficient sewage system, which was also checked and repaired at regular intervals. However, only a few house drains and latrines in the capital were connected to this system. Often rubbish was thrown in the sewers, but much was simply thrown away on the streets of Rome, which was then fought over by stray dogs and birds. The overflow of the constantly flowing wells washed the rubbish down the streets.

This system of disposal resulted in a large amount of waste and filth.

The amphorae and other clay pots were disposed of in Rome on a hill near the city on which the broken pieces were stacked. It was forbidden to remove anything from this hill during the entire Roman Empire , as it was a prestige object of Rome ("We are wealthy enough not to have to use our rubbish again.")

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literature