Shedding Light on the (Largely) Unseen Benefits of Street Sweeping
by Ranger Kidwell-Ross, editor
WorldSweeper.com
In the daily flood of information on street sweeping, it's hard to ignore the overwhelming negativity surrounding this essential urban service. From complaints about the inconvenience of moving vehicles to the dust kicked up by sweepers and routes missed with no notice, the grievance topics can seem endless.
On December 12th, as I began penning this editorial, a link popped into my inbox leading to a New Yorker series titled "Things That Would Be More Effective Than N.Y.C. Street-Sweeper Trucks." While merely a collection of cartoons, the fact that the esteemed editors at the New Yorker deemed it worthy of publication speaks volumes about the perceived public interest in the topic.
What many fail to recognize is the extraordinary value that a well-executed street sweeping program brings to a community. Beyond the apparent inconvenience, such programs contribute significantly to environmental and safety improvements while fostering a sense of community pride and responsibility. It's time to enlighten the public about these hidden benefits and transform a perceived hassle into a community asset.
This edition is dedicated to unraveling the layers of misconception surrounding street sweeping. We aim to educate our readers on the untold advantages they can unlock within their own neighborhoods by disseminating information to their constituents. Without this knowledge, street sweeping might be seen as nothing more than an expensive inconvenience.
In some of our stories you'll discover a wealth of information on the topic. Our objective is to empower readers to communicate the value their street sweeping programs bring to the table – whether it's flood prevention, water supply cleanliness, or any other positive impact unique to their locality. To facilitate this, we've compiled a comprehensive guide in a newly developed PDF titled "10 Important Reasons for Street Sweeping," conveniently linked in our fourth story below.
As you delve into this material, consider how you can leverage it to underscore the importance of street sweeping, not just for the removal of visible trash but also the microscopic but pollution-laden debris that often goes unnoticed. Simultaneously, ensure that your sweeping program is well-managed and doesn't fall short in any of the aspects outlined in our PDF.
Let's work together to shift the narrative surrounding street sweeping – from a mere inconvenience to a vital contributor to community well-being.
As always, if you have questions and/or any news of potential interest to the power sweeping community, please let us know. Between this publication, the WorldSweeper.com website, and the World Sweeping Association, we'll be sure to get the information passed along to interested readers.
Good Sweeping,
Editor, WorldSweeper.com
Executive Director, World Sweeping Association
Member, PAVEMENT Hall of Fame
PS If you're a contractor I urge you to check out the many benefits of membership in the World Sweeping Association. Also, if you haven't 'liked' our WorldSweeper Facebook page, what are you waiting for? That's where we offer a variety of industry previews and updates on an ongoing basis.
December Newsletter Contents
(Scroll down to read stories or click on links below.)
- Global Environmental Products: Manufacturer of America's First Hybrid, EV and Hydrogen Sweepers
- CARB approves $624 million for ZEV funding
- Multihog Now Building EV Sweeper for US Market
- Education About Street Sweepers Key to Public Acceptance
- Town of Midland, WV, Involved Kids in Creating Sweeper Graphics
- Not Exactly Sweeping: Telwell's Low-Cost Urgent Care Program Great for Contractors
Global Environmental Products: Manufacturer of America's First Hybrid, EV and Hydrogen Sweepers
Global Environmental Products is a California-based sweeper manufacturer that has been a leader in introducing street-class electric sweepers. The company even has a hydrogen-powered model.
WorldSweeper's Editor recently conducted a Zoomcast interview with Sebastian Mentelski, a Director in the Global organization. In the hour-long conversation, you will learn a wide array of information about Global and the way it operates, as well as an overview of the emerging EV sweeper industry and its advantages and challenges. The link includes an article portion with an overview of the discussion.
Take a look at the article, which has a link to the Zoomcast.
CARB approves $624 million for ZEV funding
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has approved an almost $624 million funding plan for its incentive programs that will continue to help Californians – from truck fleet operators to commuters – make the switch to zero-emission vehicles.
“The shift toward zero emission is only possible if every Californian has access to new and emerging vehicle technology, and our funding plan reflects the importance of equitable access in working toward a clean air future,” said CARB Chair Liane Randolph. “The funding plan also offers a wide range of tools to get Californians into cleaner options, from the trucks that transport goods across the state to e-bikes that can make it easier for residents to meet their everyday mobility needs.”
WorldSweeper is also investigating how American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds for sweeper purchases might be accessed in different locales and hope to have that information in a future edition. For example, here is an article about how Austintown, Ohio, received $287,688 in ARP funds that were awarded to the town by its county commissioners.
Especially if you're located in California, you may also be interested in the doomsday forecast some have about the potential effect that the CARB rulings on diesel-powered vehicles set to take place on January 1st may have on California-based truck dealers.
Take a look at the CARB announcement.
Multihog Now Building EV Sweeper for US Market
The Irish multi-purpose tractor manufacturer, Multihog, reports it is now building its first EV sweeper model. The Multihog range of machines is designed and constructed completely in-house and includes four different vehicle types and a number of applications for street sweeping, snow plowing or landscaping. To date, all products are powered by diesel engines with 75 or 130 horsepower.
Multihog delivers to 35 countries, with the biggest markets in the US and Britain. The decision to start developing an electric vehicle came in response to a stream of requests, most of which came from the US. The new electric street sweeper is based on Multihog’s smallest existing model, which is designed for paths. “We were honestly not expecting the US market to be the biggest driver behind the EV demand,” McAdam said. “Especially markets in California were practically screaming for it.”
Read all about it.
Education About Street Sweepers Key to Public Acceptance
Street sweeping is (pick one)...
A) Important for many reasons including trash and small particle removal as well as flood pollution abatement.
B) A hassle that doesn't do much of anything except make people move their vehicles and it creates clouds of dust.
Educating your constituents about the vital value of pavement sweeping is extremely important. Presumably, as a subscriber during the 18+ years of this newsletter, YOU already know all about the many reasons why sweeping is undeniably important. What we are recommending that you do is to transmit that information to those you serve – whether you are a contractor, a public works official or a stormwater professional.
To assist you, WorldSweeper has developed a PDF file that lists 10 important reasons for educating your constituents about the value of street sweeping. We encourage you to access the information as a reminder that power sweeping is the first line of defense against pavement-based pollutant runoff into waterways and elsewhere.
Here also are just three of the many examples you can find online with information about power sweeping. In order to make sure those who receive sweeping services understand the importance of the task, adapt these types of information and put them onto your own websites, include them in your social media posts, develop video featuring your organization's sweepers, etc.!
The three links are to: 4 Surprising Facts About Street Sweepers You Didn't Know; Athens Sweeping Company's video about how sweepers work; Bellingham, Washington's web page about why sweeping is important.
Town of Midland, WV, Involved Kids in Creating Sweeper Graphics
Continuing with the theme of educating your citizens about your sweeping program, here's a great example: The Town of Midland's new street sweeper claims artistic bragging rights with two vibrant graphic displays, a different one on each side. Aiming to brighten up their new sweeper, staff encouraged local children to showcase their talent by submitting entries to a coloring contest held this summer.
"It is absolutely thrilling to witness the enthusiastic participation and outstanding artistic talent displayed by local kids,” said Mayor Bill Gordon, shown in the photo with Maelle, the artist of the artwork shown above. "We’re also proud of town operations staff for bringing this innovative idea to life while engaging the community on this project."
The contest received an overwhelming response from the community, Gordon says, with over 30 entries from youth ages four to 18. With so many beautiful entries to choose from, contest judges awarded two first-place winners, one second-place and one third-place winner. The two first-place winners’ art is displayed on either side of the street sweeper.
If you want to see a larger photo, read more, and see photos of the other three winners, check out the original article here.
Telwell's Low-Cost Urgent Care Program Great for Contractors
Many sweeping contractors are unable to afford offering traditional health insurance plans to their employees and families. Even if they do, plans often have high deductibles. As a result of barriers to visiting a doctor, absenteeism is increased when employees get sick without access to medical care and/or have to stay at home with sick children. The World Sweeping Association has added an optional benefit that addresses this issue. It's so powerful that it is being made available to anyone in power sweeping.
The Telwell program is a nationwide virtual urgent care program. For $250/year ($300/year for non-WSA members) an entire family may be enrolled to access unlimited virtual urgent care visits throughout the year. All doctors are pre-screened and board certified.
This program can help keep employees on the job due to getting medical advice earlier, and more often, than they would otherwise. Needed prescriptions are typically discounted and may be filled by a local pharmacist of choice. An unlimited number of visits via video or phone are covered for the enrollee and their entire family throughout the year. If you want to learn more, access to the information is now available to all at the WSA website page linked below.
FYI, one enrollee reported recently having a severe and very painful arthritis flare-up with his knee. He conferred with a board certified doctor under his Telwell program; received a diagnosis; the doctor sent a prescription to his local pharmacy; and, he says he got almost immediate relief. All without having the time loss or expense of going to a local ER or Urgent Care. That's how well the program works.
Find out the details.
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