Venice is a unique city built on a network of canals rather than roads. Everyday life — from commuting to deliveries and even waste collection — relies on waterborne transportation. Traditional garbage trucks simply cannot operate in such an environment, and city services instead use specialized watercraft to keep canals clean and maintain public hygiene.

This article explains how waste collection functions in a city on water, with a particular focus on the types of vessels used, how they operate, and why they are essential to Venice's urban infrastructure.