Street Sweeping: An Under-Appreciated BMP for U.S. Streets
by Ranger Kidwell-Ross, editor
WorldSweeper.com
Welcome to the March/April 2025 issue of the WorldSweeper.com newsletter! As we move further into 2025, you'll find that the information coming from WorldSweeper is largely targeting the continuing evolution of the power sweeping industry, with a strong emphasis on environmental sustainability and technological advancements.
This issue highlights several key developments shaping our field. With ongoing concerns about climate change and water quality, we are focusing on the significant role street sweepers deserve to have in removal of pavement-based pollutants. We anticipate that our summer testing will reiterate the cost-effectiveness of sweepers in that regard, including in their ability to remove microplastics.
Looking ahead, this issue provides information on the process behind our upcoming summer sweeper testing, which is part of a Sea Grant/NOAA project administered through USC and the City of Santa Barbara, with Roger Sutherland and myself as co-designers. We also provide an update on our dialogue with the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) regarding their 25-year-old, clearly out of date, sweeper test and the possibility of their involvement in the upcoming testing to add air quality impacts to the tests.
We believe this summer's test data could inform future AQMD Rule 1186 regulations as well as better inform street sweeper purchasing decisions going forward, with the ultimate goal of improving water and air quality throughout the U.S. and the world. Our links offering highlights from the 9th Annual 2025 National Stormwater Policy Forum, where the policy issues currently driving the stormwater sector are discussed, make it plain that sweeping can and should have a larger role in pavement-based pollutant removal.
To showcase some of the ways an increase in street sweeping can best be achieved, we have developed and provide to you an overview of what we term 'enhanced street sweeping.' The comprehensive approach to street sweeping we are introducing will allow the industry to maximize pollutant removal and improve stormwater runoff quality – ever more cost-effectively – via advanced technology, optimized schedules, pavement management, and state-of-the-art vehicle removal programs.
Technological advancements continue to be a key theme, as seen in the City of Pittsburgh's implementation of a tech-driven street sweeping program utilizing smart cameras and the City of Geelong, Australia's use of telematic technology to improve its sweeping routes.
We also feature the technology provided by Elgin Sweepers. For over a decade Elgin's air sweepers have been a staple at NASCAR races where they keep racetracks clean and safe. Finally, in case you missed it when we sent you the information the first of this month, we offer an article about the buzz around Elon Musk's unveiling of Tesla's autonomous parking lot sweeper, the 'LotBot.' Does it signal a potential future for autonomous sweeping? You decide!
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.
January/February Newsletter Contents
(Scroll down to read stories or click on links below.)
- Info on the Process Behind This Summer's Sweeper Testing
- Update on Dialogue With AQMD on its 25-Year-Old Sweeper Test
- 9th Annual 2025 National Stormwater Policy Forum Held on April 7th
- An Introduction and Overview of Enhanced Street Sweeping
- Tech-driven Street Sweeping Program Begins in Pittsburgh
- City of Geelong, Australia, Using Sweeper Tech to Save Time, Money
- Elgin Sweepers a Staple at NASCAR Races
- Elon Musk's Unveiling of Tesla's Autonomous Parking Lot Sweeper
Info on the Process Behind This Summer's Sweeper Testing
As we detailed in our last newsletter issue Ranger Kidwell-Ross, WorldSweeper's Editor, is designing a street sweeper testing process that will occur starting in mid-July as part of a Sea Grant/NOAA project administered through USC and the City of Santa Barbara. Roger Sutherland, who has designed and conducted a variety of sweeper tests over the past 40+ years, will be the co-designer.
Since the information provided in our last issue, Ranger invited all manufacturers of street-class sweepers sold in America to attend a follow-up Zoomcast webinar on the testing project. Ranger provided an overview on what is planned and Roger Sutherland provided an overview of the actual testing process that is envisioned. Manufacturers were also invited to provide input on the testing methodology where it is at the moment.
If you want to learn more about the plan to test street-class sweepers sold in America, check out the link shown below. In the PDF file you'll find a link to read the entire transcript of the webinar, as well as access to PDFs of the Powerpoint presentations used by participants.
Take a look at the webinar information.
Update on Dialogue With AQMD on its 25-Year-Old Sweeper Test
In February, WorldSweeper convened a Zoom meeting with a group that included representatives from the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD), city officials, and sweeping experts to discuss a proposed project to test street sweeper effectiveness in capturing pollutants, including microplastics. The intent of including AQMD in the meeting was to discuss the vital importance and overall value of expanding this summer's street sweeper tests to evaluate the air quality impacts of differing street sweepers.
The conversation highlighted well-documented concerns about the current AQMD certification process (Rule 1186), established in 1999, which some believe is flawed and doesn't adequately assess the abilities of today's street sweepers when it comes to both small particle pickup and fugitive dust generation. (Editor's Note: In the previous AQMD test, every air and broom sweeper that were part of the test were labeled as "AQMD Certified" for its Rule 1186 requirements.)
The participants explored the value of including AQMD's financial and technical involvement in the upcoming sweeper testing, which currently is designed to only assess the ability of different street sweepers to reduce stormwater runoff pollution, including removal ability with regard to microplastics.
The aim of having AQMD involvement was to include the development of results showing the impact of sweeping on air quality, both during operation and as a result of conducting both regular and enhanced street sweeping. The hope is that AQMD involvement could provide additional data that would inform the AQMD's future regulations, as well as purchasing decisions by street sweeper users, both of which could ultimately result in improving both water and air quality.
Check out overview information about the AQMD meeting and requested involvement in updating the sweeper testing process.
9th Annual 2025 National Stormwater Policy Forum Held on April 7th
The half-day event was co-led by the National Municipal Stormwater Association (NMSA) and the Water Environment Federation (WEF) and co-hosted by the National League of Cities (NLC) and the National Association of Counties (NACo). This annual event held in Washington D.C. brought together stormwater professionals from across the country to engage with national policymakers.
The event provided an opportunity for stormwater professionals to learn about current policy issues driving the stormwater sector, including legislative and regulatory updates as well as detailed analysis on policy and legal hot topics from leading professionals. For those municipal management readers of this newsletter, we offer a summary of the meeting, an audio link to the entire meeting and, what we found most interesting, an AI audio summation provided in podcast form by NotebookLM.
Although street sweeping does not currently have a central 'seat at the table' that recent studies dictate it should have, WorldSweeper believes the results of the upcoming street sweeper tests have the potential for changing that in a big way.
Take a look at the 'Briefing Document' generated from the 4-hour meeting.
Listen to the captivating 23-minute, AI-generated, audio podcast that summarizes the information from the 4-hour event in mp3 format.
Attend the 4-hour meeting in its entirety as an on-demand webinar at YouTube.
An Introduction and Overview of Enhanced Street Sweeping
The document linked below, co-developed by our Editor, Ranger Kidwell-Ross, and noted sweeper testing researcher, Roger Sutherland, outlines the key components for creating an enhanced street sweeping program; i.e., one aimed at maximizing the removal of pollutants and improving the quality of stormwater runoff in municipalities. The text emphasizes a holistic approach that includes utilizing advanced sweeper technology, optimizing sweeping schedules based on need, managing pavement conditions, and implementing vehicle removal programs.
For example: When it began street sweeping the first of April, 3,000 people in Denver forgot to move their cars. If the city used a citizen notification app, like is discussed in our enhanced sweeping article, there would likely have been many fewer residents who got ticketed.
Furthermore, if you are wanting to get the most 'bang for your buck' when it comes to your street sweeping program, the enhanced street sweeping guidelines Kidwell-Ross has developed stresses the importance of proper sweeper maintenance, data-driven monitoring and program adjustments, integration with stormwater management efforts, public education, and the adoption of innovative and cost-effective strategies. All have the ultimate goal of continuous improvement and regulatory recognition for street sweeping's environmental benefits.
When you access the presentation linked below, consider that the two presenters have nearly 100 years of combined experience in the power sweeping industry.
Check out the elements of an 'enhanced sweeping program.'
Tech-driven Street Sweeping Program Begins in Pittsburgh
The City of Pittsburgh's Department of Public Works and the Pittsburgh Parking Authority are partnering to roll out an improved street-sweeping program for the 2025 season, making use of automated technology. The idea behind the more technological program is to ensure cleaner, safer streets.
The Pittsburgh Parking Authority vehicles will now have smart cameras mounted on their roofs. Onorato said the drivers would follow behind the street sweeper and record the license plates of cars preventing the street sweeper from cleaning the street.
Learn more about the Geelong project.
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City of Geelong, Australia, Using Sweeper Tech to Save Time, Money
The City of Geelong and surrounding area offers some of the most breathtaking landscapes in Australia. However, ever since European settlement biodiversity has declined in the region primarily due to land clearing, weeds and pest animals.
As part of that process, Geelong has started harnessing new technologies to help its street sweeping services 'go the extra mile.' The City is now employing telematic technology to collect and transmit data from its street sweeper vehicles to improve routes. We have the story as an addition to our extensive sweeping information from other countries, which offers stories from Australia as well as 30 other countries around the globe.
Take a look at the information.
Elgin Sweepers a Staple at NASCAR Races
In addition, Elgin has announced the expansion of Joe Johnson Equipment into new territories in Indiana and Louisiana.
More than 10 years ago, Elgin Sweeper became an official partner of NASCAR. Since then, NASCAR has relied on Elgin sweepers to keep race tracks cleaner, safer, dryer and more eco-friendly. At each NASCAR race, Elgin sweepers remove debris and clean the surface of the racetrack. As the premier sweeper of NASCAR, the Elgin Crosswind Specialty Track Sweeper can be seen on the track in its special NASCAR wrap.
In addition, you can use the other link below to check out where Federal Subsidiary, Joe Johnson, has expanded to starting this month.
Take a look at the information offered about Elgin's NASCAR sweepers. Includes the link to a brief video of the sweepers on a NASCAR track.
Use this link to find out more about the Joe Johnson expansion into Indiana and Louisiana.
Elon Musk's Unveiling of Tesla's Autonomous Parking Lot Sweeper
On the first of April this year, WorldSweeper reported that Elon Musk would be entering the power sweeping marketplace with an autonomous parking area sweeper. "We are starting with an autonomous Tesla sweeper for parking areas," said Musk, "which we're tentatively calling the 'LotBot.' However, by 2030 the Tesla sweeper line will have become the future for all types of pavement sweeping."
In case you missed the news about the new Tesla sweeper sent out by WorldSweeper on its April 1st debut, you can still check out the link below.
Take a look at the details.
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