Summary: street sweeping manual chapter 4, establishing street sweeping programs,
Street Sweeping Manual
4-1
CHAPTER 4.
STREET SWEEPING PROGRAM COMPONENTS
4.1
Introduction
Establishing, operating, and maintaining a municipal street sweeping program involves significant
planning. This chapter provides jurisdictions guidance in setting up and running a street sweeping
program catered to their specific needs, with a focus on protecting water quality. Jurisdictions can
utilize the information included in this chapter to develop their first street sweeping program or
update their existing programs. This chapter offers information and guidance on the following
content:
Section 4.2 – Street Sweeping Overview: Provides a definition and background on street
sweeping and summarizes its purpose and benefits
Section 4.3 – Program Elements: Describes the core elements of a municipal street
sweeping program, including administration, staffing, scheduling, operations and
maintenance, waste disposal, documentation and reporting, and public relations, as
well as defining program size, scope, and organization
Section 4.4 – Program Sizing: Discusses ways to define the size and scope of a municipal
street sweeping program
Section 4.5 – Program Organization: Describes how municipal street sweeping programs
may be organized, including considerations of interdepartmental collaboration
Section 4.6 – Street Sweeping Equipment: Provides an overview of street sweeping
equipment, including a comparison of the different sweeper types and their maintenance
and replacement needs
Section 4.7 – Contracting vs. In-House Street Sweeping: Compares the options of
contracting street sweeping services versus providing the service using in-house staff
Section 4.8 – Other Program Considerations: Discusses additional considerations that
may apply to some jurisdictions, such as climate factors and parking restrictions
4.2
Street Sweeping Overview
Street sweeping is a form of public service and environmental stewardship that provides
a multitude of benefits. Street sweeping involves the use of a machine driven over road surfaces
to pick up accumulated street waste [1] followed by proper storage and disposal of the waste as
discussed in Chapter 7. Originally performed to improve the aesthetics and cleanliness of roads,
street sweeping is now considered an important pollutant source-control measure when high-
efficiency sweepers are utilized. As discussed in Chapter 2, street waste contains a variety of
contaminants that contribute to water and air pollution. Street sweeping aims to intercept these
contaminants before they mix with precipitation and dispose of them safely, thus mitigating a
major source of pollution in the environment. Street sweeping also provides other benefits,
including improving roadway appearance and removing safety hazards such as debris build-up,
which may cause vehicles to skid. Furthermore, street sweeping can slow the deterioration of
road surfaces and reduce clogging of stormwater infrastructure, potentially reducing the amount
of maintenance needed and increasing the BMP lifecycle. Chapter 2 includes a full discussion of
the benefits of street sweeping. In the past, street sweeping was performed manually with
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-2
individual brooms, but modern street sweeping machines allow for a much broader coverage area
and greater removal efficiency. Municipal street sweeping programs can involve large operations
that utilize multiple machines and operators, covering potentially hundreds of miles of roadway [1,
2]. Regardless of the program size, these operations require significant organization and planning
efforts, as described in this chapter.
4.3
Program Elements
Planning a new municipal street sweeping program or updating an existing program begins with
the jurisdiction defining their goals for the program [1]. Jurisdictions with a Phase I or Phase II MS4
Permit are required to conduct street sweeping, and other considerations may also factor into
goals such as safety, maintenance concerns, and public perception. Once defined, street
sweeping program goals will guide decisions on the program size and scope, staffing, equipment
selection, and whether to contract sweeping or establish in-house sweeping operations [1]. The
following subsections provide an overview of common elements that make up a street sweeping
program that jurisdictions may need to develop and scale to achieve their permit requirements
and goals. These program elements include administration, staffing, scheduling, operations and
maintenance, waste disposal and permitting, documentation and reporting, and training.
4.3.1 Administration
Administration involves the process of running a municipal street sweeping program. Activities
associated with administration include establishing policies and procedures, managing staff and
budgets, coordinating with internal and external parties, and public engagement. Administrative
staff make key decisions about program elements and oversee the effective implementation of the
street sweeping operation. Important program elements that administrative staff may make
decisions on include:
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) – SOPs define how street sweeping gets
implemented and provides staff with instruction for conducting their work.
Instructional materials for staff – Short, simplified SOPs for field staff to utilize (e.g., one
page summary, checklist).
Sweeping locations and routes – Jurisdictions need to determine street sweeping areas
and efficient routing for planning sweeping activities (see Chapter 3 and Chapter 5).
Sweeping schedule – The sweeping schedule establishes the frequency and timeframe
of when sweeping events occur (see Section 4.3.3).
Budget allocation – Budget allocation involves decisions on what resources to invest
in given the available program budget (see Chapter 8).
Staffing needs – Staffing requires determining the number and types of staff needed
to run and implement the sweeping program (see Section 4.3.2).
In-House or Contracting – Jurisdictions must decide between establishing in-house
sweeping operations, utilizing contracted sweeping services, or a combination of the
two (see Section 4.7)
Equipment selection and maintenance protocol – Municipalities opting to conduct in-
house operations need to decide on the type(s) and model(s) of sweeper equipment to
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-3
use as well as implement a maintenance program to keep the equipment in working order
(see Section 4.6).
Waste disposal process – The waste disposal process involves selecting a disposal facility,
providing storage for collected waste, processing waste (e.g., decanting, screening for
reuse), and transporting waste to the disposal facility (see Section 4.3.5 and Chapter 7).
Public engagement strategies – Jurisdictions need to decide how they communicate and
interact with the community regarding street sweeping activities such as publishing
schedules on the jurisdiction’s website or implementing parking restrictions (see Section
4.3.8).
Data collection and documentation – Jurisdictions need to identify the types of data and
records needed and establish a process for data collection and storing records (see
Section 4.3.6).
In addition to making decisions about important program elements, administration responsibility
may also include the following items:
Defining performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities
for improvement over time [1].
Communicating program needs and the importance of street sweeping to decisionmakers
responsible for approving contracts and purchases, such as a city council or board of
commissioners.
Maintaining the program budget and allocating funds appropriately for effective program
implementation.
Maintaining solid waste handling and storage permits, if required (refer to local health
department requirements).
Coordinating with other departments affected by or involved with street sweeping, such as
a streets department, maintenance crews, enforcement, and emergency services.
Coordinating with external parties regarding potential impacts from sweeping activities,
such as business operations or special events.
Overseeing the optimal implementation of the street sweeping program and verifying that
local and state policies are followed correctly.
Administrative staff should regularly review their policies and procedures and update and adapt
the street sweeping program as necessary [1].
4.3.2 Staffing
Staffing consists of identifying the number and skills of personnel needed to implement a street
sweeping program. Staffing needs will vary depending on the program size and scope as well as
jurisdiction-specific goals. The street sweeping program may incorporate the following roles:
Management/leadership – Oversees the program and final decisions regarding street
sweeping administration elements.
Administrative staff – Perform administrative functions such as scheduling, document
storage, posting notices, coordinating with staff and other departments, and community
engagement.
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-4
Operators – Perform street sweeping in the field by operating sweeping equipment [1].
Crew leader – Manages other operators, assigns training to new staff, and schedules and
plans sweeping operations based on field observations, etc. [1]. May also be responsible
for data collection.
Mechanic – Utilized to conduct routine maintenance and any sweeper repairs.
Contractors – Utilized when contracting street sweeping services externally [1].
GIS staff – Conduct mapping and tracking related to street sweeping using GIS software.
The roles and responsibilities of street sweeping staff may overlap, or some staff may perform
multiple roles. For example, operators may offer valuable insight into areas that need focused
sweeping, ideal scheduling timeframes, and improving sweeping implementation due to their field
experience and observations [1]. Their experiences and lessons learned can also help inform the
development of outreach and educational materials. Jurisdictions may choose to hire new
personnel or utilize existing municipal field staff for the street sweeping program. Both cases
require training to educate staff on program goals and sweeper operational elements, as
described in Section 4.3.7.
4.3.3 Scheduling
Scheduling street sweeping involves decisions on frequency, timing throughout the year, and
timing during the day. Frequency of street sweeping will be based on, at a minimum, program goals
and applicable MS4 Permit requirements, along with program size and scope (discussed further in
Section 4.4). The Permit-required schedules involves:
Phase I: Sweep high-priority areas at least once between July and September and at least
three additional times a year as determined by the Permittee to provide additional water
quality benefits. For calendar year 2027, only one sweeping event is required between July
and December [3].
WWA & EWA Phase II: Sweep priority areas at least once between July and September
each year and at least two additional times a year as determined by the Permittee to
provide additional water quality benefits. For calendar year 2027, only one sweeping event
is required between July and December [4, 5].
For Permittees, these regulatory requirements establish the minimum sweeping frequency.
Permittees may elect to sweep with greater frequency to meet jurisdictional goals as well as
address public safety, aesthetics, and environmental concerns. More information on street
sweeping frequency for optimal water quality outcomes can be found in Chapter 2.
During periods of street sweeping implementation, sweeping likely occurs throughout the day,
especially for jurisdictions sweeping large areas. For jurisdictions choosing to sweep at a high
frequency in high-traffic areas (e.g., weekly), sweeping at night may help minimize disruption to the
public and street sweeping operations (e.g., from street parking) [1]. In contrast, street parking is
more common at night and on weekends in residential areas, so daytime and weekday sweeping is
recommended. Other variables that may influence street sweeping scheduling and frequency
include:
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-5
Weather conditions (see Section 4.8.2 for more information on wet weather practices).
Winter climate (see Section 4.8.3 for cold climate considerations).
Leaf and needle drop (see Section 4.8.4 for guidance on tree litter impacts).
Equipment downtime for maintenance or repairs (see Section 4.6.3 for details on
equipment downtime).
Contractor availability (see Section 4.7 for discussion on scheduling contracted services).
4.3.4 Operations and Maintenance
Operations and maintenance of street sweeping equipment is essential to support the longevity
and efficacy of the equipment. The Phase I and II MS4 Permits describe required operational
procedures: “Procedures to follow equipment design performance specifications to ensure that
street sweeping equipment is operated at the proper design speed with appropriate verification,
and that equipment is properly maintained.†Additional guidance on optimum street sweeping
practices can be found in Section 5.4 of Chapter 5.
Operations and maintenance for municipal street sweeping programs includes proper equipment
storage and maintenance as well as equipment repairs and replacements. These practices help
maximize service life and protect the environment from the pollutants in street waste as well as
potential sweeper vehicle fluid leaks. Street sweeping operations and maintenance programs may
involve delegating maintenance tasks, setting maintenance and inspection schedules, and
acquiring materials necessary for cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. Options for labor include
hiring an in-house mechanic, utilizing an external maintenance service, or providing operator staff
with additional training to perform maintenance, inspection, and repair of sweeper equipment.
Municipalities may consider developing an Operations and Maintenance Manual to establish
procedures for proper and consistent operation and maintenance of sweeper equipment. An
Operations and Maintenance Manual may include instruction on daily vehicle cleaning, equipment
inspections, schedules for repairs and replacements, recordkeeping, and planning for storage of
program materials. Sections 4.3.5, 4.6.2, and 4.6.3 contain further information on maintenance
topics.
4.3.5 Street Waste Disposal
Managing collected street waste involves storage, processing, and disposal. Planning for street
waste disposal will involve:
Acquiring waste handling and storage permits, if required by County health departments
Establishing waste storage sites and containment procedures
Identifying waste processing needs and methods (e.g., decanting, screening for
compostable material)
Selecting facilities for solid waste…
4-1
CHAPTER 4.
STREET SWEEPING PROGRAM COMPONENTS
4.1
Introduction
Establishing, operating, and maintaining a municipal street sweeping program involves significant
planning. This chapter provides jurisdictions guidance in setting up and running a street sweeping
program catered to their specific needs, with a focus on protecting water quality. Jurisdictions can
utilize the information included in this chapter to develop their first street sweeping program or
update their existing programs. This chapter offers information and guidance on the following
content:
Section 4.2 – Street Sweeping Overview: Provides a definition and background on street
sweeping and summarizes its purpose and benefits
Section 4.3 – Program Elements: Describes the core elements of a municipal street
sweeping program, including administration, staffing, scheduling, operations and
maintenance, waste disposal, documentation and reporting, and public relations, as
well as defining program size, scope, and organization
Section 4.4 – Program Sizing: Discusses ways to define the size and scope of a municipal
street sweeping program
Section 4.5 – Program Organization: Describes how municipal street sweeping programs
may be organized, including considerations of interdepartmental collaboration
Section 4.6 – Street Sweeping Equipment: Provides an overview of street sweeping
equipment, including a comparison of the different sweeper types and their maintenance
and replacement needs
Section 4.7 – Contracting vs. In-House Street Sweeping: Compares the options of
contracting street sweeping services versus providing the service using in-house staff
Section 4.8 – Other Program Considerations: Discusses additional considerations that
may apply to some jurisdictions, such as climate factors and parking restrictions
4.2
Street Sweeping Overview
Street sweeping is a form of public service and environmental stewardship that provides
a multitude of benefits. Street sweeping involves the use of a machine driven over road surfaces
to pick up accumulated street waste [1] followed by proper storage and disposal of the waste as
discussed in Chapter 7. Originally performed to improve the aesthetics and cleanliness of roads,
street sweeping is now considered an important pollutant source-control measure when high-
efficiency sweepers are utilized. As discussed in Chapter 2, street waste contains a variety of
contaminants that contribute to water and air pollution. Street sweeping aims to intercept these
contaminants before they mix with precipitation and dispose of them safely, thus mitigating a
major source of pollution in the environment. Street sweeping also provides other benefits,
including improving roadway appearance and removing safety hazards such as debris build-up,
which may cause vehicles to skid. Furthermore, street sweeping can slow the deterioration of
road surfaces and reduce clogging of stormwater infrastructure, potentially reducing the amount
of maintenance needed and increasing the BMP lifecycle. Chapter 2 includes a full discussion of
the benefits of street sweeping. In the past, street sweeping was performed manually with
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-2
individual brooms, but modern street sweeping machines allow for a much broader coverage area
and greater removal efficiency. Municipal street sweeping programs can involve large operations
that utilize multiple machines and operators, covering potentially hundreds of miles of roadway [1,
2]. Regardless of the program size, these operations require significant organization and planning
efforts, as described in this chapter.
4.3
Program Elements
Planning a new municipal street sweeping program or updating an existing program begins with
the jurisdiction defining their goals for the program [1]. Jurisdictions with a Phase I or Phase II MS4
Permit are required to conduct street sweeping, and other considerations may also factor into
goals such as safety, maintenance concerns, and public perception. Once defined, street
sweeping program goals will guide decisions on the program size and scope, staffing, equipment
selection, and whether to contract sweeping or establish in-house sweeping operations [1]. The
following subsections provide an overview of common elements that make up a street sweeping
program that jurisdictions may need to develop and scale to achieve their permit requirements
and goals. These program elements include administration, staffing, scheduling, operations and
maintenance, waste disposal and permitting, documentation and reporting, and training.
4.3.1 Administration
Administration involves the process of running a municipal street sweeping program. Activities
associated with administration include establishing policies and procedures, managing staff and
budgets, coordinating with internal and external parties, and public engagement. Administrative
staff make key decisions about program elements and oversee the effective implementation of the
street sweeping operation. Important program elements that administrative staff may make
decisions on include:
Standard operating procedures (SOPs) – SOPs define how street sweeping gets
implemented and provides staff with instruction for conducting their work.
Instructional materials for staff – Short, simplified SOPs for field staff to utilize (e.g., one
page summary, checklist).
Sweeping locations and routes – Jurisdictions need to determine street sweeping areas
and efficient routing for planning sweeping activities (see Chapter 3 and Chapter 5).
Sweeping schedule – The sweeping schedule establishes the frequency and timeframe
of when sweeping events occur (see Section 4.3.3).
Budget allocation – Budget allocation involves decisions on what resources to invest
in given the available program budget (see Chapter 8).
Staffing needs – Staffing requires determining the number and types of staff needed
to run and implement the sweeping program (see Section 4.3.2).
In-House or Contracting – Jurisdictions must decide between establishing in-house
sweeping operations, utilizing contracted sweeping services, or a combination of the
two (see Section 4.7)
Equipment selection and maintenance protocol – Municipalities opting to conduct in-
house operations need to decide on the type(s) and model(s) of sweeper equipment to
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-3
use as well as implement a maintenance program to keep the equipment in working order
(see Section 4.6).
Waste disposal process – The waste disposal process involves selecting a disposal facility,
providing storage for collected waste, processing waste (e.g., decanting, screening for
reuse), and transporting waste to the disposal facility (see Section 4.3.5 and Chapter 7).
Public engagement strategies – Jurisdictions need to decide how they communicate and
interact with the community regarding street sweeping activities such as publishing
schedules on the jurisdiction’s website or implementing parking restrictions (see Section
4.3.8).
Data collection and documentation – Jurisdictions need to identify the types of data and
records needed and establish a process for data collection and storing records (see
Section 4.3.6).
In addition to making decisions about important program elements, administration responsibility
may also include the following items:
Defining performance metrics to evaluate program effectiveness and identify opportunities
for improvement over time [1].
Communicating program needs and the importance of street sweeping to decisionmakers
responsible for approving contracts and purchases, such as a city council or board of
commissioners.
Maintaining the program budget and allocating funds appropriately for effective program
implementation.
Maintaining solid waste handling and storage permits, if required (refer to local health
department requirements).
Coordinating with other departments affected by or involved with street sweeping, such as
a streets department, maintenance crews, enforcement, and emergency services.
Coordinating with external parties regarding potential impacts from sweeping activities,
such as business operations or special events.
Overseeing the optimal implementation of the street sweeping program and verifying that
local and state policies are followed correctly.
Administrative staff should regularly review their policies and procedures and update and adapt
the street sweeping program as necessary [1].
4.3.2 Staffing
Staffing consists of identifying the number and skills of personnel needed to implement a street
sweeping program. Staffing needs will vary depending on the program size and scope as well as
jurisdiction-specific goals. The street sweeping program may incorporate the following roles:
Management/leadership – Oversees the program and final decisions regarding street
sweeping administration elements.
Administrative staff – Perform administrative functions such as scheduling, document
storage, posting notices, coordinating with staff and other departments, and community
engagement.
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-4
Operators – Perform street sweeping in the field by operating sweeping equipment [1].
Crew leader – Manages other operators, assigns training to new staff, and schedules and
plans sweeping operations based on field observations, etc. [1]. May also be responsible
for data collection.
Mechanic – Utilized to conduct routine maintenance and any sweeper repairs.
Contractors – Utilized when contracting street sweeping services externally [1].
GIS staff – Conduct mapping and tracking related to street sweeping using GIS software.
The roles and responsibilities of street sweeping staff may overlap, or some staff may perform
multiple roles. For example, operators may offer valuable insight into areas that need focused
sweeping, ideal scheduling timeframes, and improving sweeping implementation due to their field
experience and observations [1]. Their experiences and lessons learned can also help inform the
development of outreach and educational materials. Jurisdictions may choose to hire new
personnel or utilize existing municipal field staff for the street sweeping program. Both cases
require training to educate staff on program goals and sweeper operational elements, as
described in Section 4.3.7.
4.3.3 Scheduling
Scheduling street sweeping involves decisions on frequency, timing throughout the year, and
timing during the day. Frequency of street sweeping will be based on, at a minimum, program goals
and applicable MS4 Permit requirements, along with program size and scope (discussed further in
Section 4.4). The Permit-required schedules involves:
Phase I: Sweep high-priority areas at least once between July and September and at least
three additional times a year as determined by the Permittee to provide additional water
quality benefits. For calendar year 2027, only one sweeping event is required between July
and December [3].
WWA & EWA Phase II: Sweep priority areas at least once between July and September
each year and at least two additional times a year as determined by the Permittee to
provide additional water quality benefits. For calendar year 2027, only one sweeping event
is required between July and December [4, 5].
For Permittees, these regulatory requirements establish the minimum sweeping frequency.
Permittees may elect to sweep with greater frequency to meet jurisdictional goals as well as
address public safety, aesthetics, and environmental concerns. More information on street
sweeping frequency for optimal water quality outcomes can be found in Chapter 2.
During periods of street sweeping implementation, sweeping likely occurs throughout the day,
especially for jurisdictions sweeping large areas. For jurisdictions choosing to sweep at a high
frequency in high-traffic areas (e.g., weekly), sweeping at night may help minimize disruption to the
public and street sweeping operations (e.g., from street parking) [1]. In contrast, street parking is
more common at night and on weekends in residential areas, so daytime and weekday sweeping is
recommended. Other variables that may influence street sweeping scheduling and frequency
include:
Chapter 4
Street Sweeping Program Components
Street Sweeping Manual
4-5
Weather conditions (see Section 4.8.2 for more information on wet weather practices).
Winter climate (see Section 4.8.3 for cold climate considerations).
Leaf and needle drop (see Section 4.8.4 for guidance on tree litter impacts).
Equipment downtime for maintenance or repairs (see Section 4.6.3 for details on
equipment downtime).
Contractor availability (see Section 4.7 for discussion on scheduling contracted services).
4.3.4 Operations and Maintenance
Operations and maintenance of street sweeping equipment is essential to support the longevity
and efficacy of the equipment. The Phase I and II MS4 Permits describe required operational
procedures: “Procedures to follow equipment design performance specifications to ensure that
street sweeping equipment is operated at the proper design speed with appropriate verification,
and that equipment is properly maintained.†Additional guidance on optimum street sweeping
practices can be found in Section 5.4 of Chapter 5.
Operations and maintenance for municipal street sweeping programs includes proper equipment
storage and maintenance as well as equipment repairs and replacements. These practices help
maximize service life and protect the environment from the pollutants in street waste as well as
potential sweeper vehicle fluid leaks. Street sweeping operations and maintenance programs may
involve delegating maintenance tasks, setting maintenance and inspection schedules, and
acquiring materials necessary for cleaning, maintenance, and repairs. Options for labor include
hiring an in-house mechanic, utilizing an external maintenance service, or providing operator staff
with additional training to perform maintenance, inspection, and repair of sweeper equipment.
Municipalities may consider developing an Operations and Maintenance Manual to establish
procedures for proper and consistent operation and maintenance of sweeper equipment. An
Operations and Maintenance Manual may include instruction on daily vehicle cleaning, equipment
inspections, schedules for repairs and replacements, recordkeeping, and planning for storage of
program materials. Sections 4.3.5, 4.6.2, and 4.6.3 contain further information on maintenance
topics.
4.3.5 Street Waste Disposal
Managing collected street waste involves storage, processing, and disposal. Planning for street
waste disposal will involve:
Acquiring waste handling and storage permits, if required by County health departments
Establishing waste storage sites and containment procedures
Identifying waste processing needs and methods (e.g., decanting, screening for
compostable material)
Selecting facilities for solid waste…
