Case Studies

Impact in Action

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Specialty Venues

Keeping Dublin Zoo Spotless for 20+ Years

Dublin Zoo, nestled in 69 acres of Phoenix Park, welcomes over 1,000,000 visitors annually. Ryans Cleaning has provided uninterrupted cleaning services for more than two decades, ensuring that all public spaces and visitor facilities are maintained to the highest standards—rain or shine. Tasked with preserving a safe, clean environment for guests and animals alike, our team collaborates closely with zoo management to anticipate seasonal peaks, protect sensitive habitats, and uphold sustainability goals.

Challenges

  • Unpredictable Footfall: Visitor numbers fluctuate dramatically based on weather, school holidays, and special events, requiring flexible staffing and rapid scale-up during busy periods.
  • Expansive Site Coverage: The 69-acre park includes pathways, picnic areas, indoor exhibits, outdoor habitats, and multiple restroom facilities that all need daily attention.
  • High Sustainability Standards: The zoo operates under strict environmental guidelines, mandating recycling, composting, and minimal chemical runoff.
  • Continuous Service Requirement: With animals on exhibit daily, operations must avoid disruptions that could stress the animals or inconvenience visitors.

Solution

  • Proactive Seasonal Planning: Monthly coordination meetings with zoo staff to review upcoming events, school breaks, and maintenance schedules, enabling pre-allocation of additional crews during peak times.
  • Zonal Cleaning Teams: The zoo is divided into five sectors—visitor entrances, central pathways, animal exhibits, dining areas, and restrooms—each serviced by a dedicated team equipped with electric buggies, waste trolleys, and tailored cleaning kits.
  • Guest-Focused Cleaning Protocols: Use of biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning agents for visitor areas; power washing of pathways during off-hours to minimise disruption.
  • Integrated Waste Management: Installation of segregated bins throughout the park for recycling, compostable materials, and general refuse; daily bulk waste collections consolidated at central processing points.
  • 24/7 Emergency Response: On-call teams available overnight and early mornings to address spillages, weather-related debris, and unforeseen incidents without needing full-area closures.

Overview

Location

Dublin Zoo, Phoenix Park, Ireland

Annual Visitors

1,000,000

Main Challenge

Fluctuating footfall across 69 acres with sensitive habitats

Key Service

Zonal teams with habitat-friendly protocols

Specialised Task

Visitor facility maintenance and integrated recycling

See Also

Irish Open Golf

Specialty Venues

Results:

Ryans Cleaning provides year-round service at Dublin Zoo, ensuring visitor areas, restrooms and public spaces are consistently clean and welcoming. Our teams adapt to fluctuating visitor numbers and seasonal demands, delivering reliable support that helps the zoo offer a safe, enjoyable experience for over a million guests each year.

1,000,000

Visitors

363

Days of Coverage

200

Tonnes of Waste

TESTIMONIALs

Client Experiences and Feedback

We have worked with Ryans Cleaning since 2008 when the 3Arena (The O2) opened. This is a very demanding building to clean with many nights of back-to-back shows throughout the year and some million customers coming through our doors annually.

Ryans Cleaning are a family business, and they care deeply about what they do. I can honestly say that when the time for contract renewal comes around, there is never doubt in our minds. Ryans Cleaning provide an effective and efficient service and I would have no hesitation in recommending them to any other business seeking to avail themselves of their service.

Cormac Rennick

General Manager, 3Arena

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

The long-standing partnership with Dublin Zoo highlights the importance of proactive planning, specialised habitat-friendly protocols, and integrated waste management.

These practices not only ensure a clean, safe environment for visitors and animals but also uphold the zoo’s commitment to sustainability.

Our success story at Dublin Zoo informs best practices for all large, environmentally sensitive sites in Ryans Cleaning’s portfolio.

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