Creating (and following) a schedule can increase the efficiency of a street sweeping program. A successful program should be flexible to accommodate climate conditions and areas of concern. HOA’s and developers should base their identification of areas of concern on traffic volume, land use, field observations of sediment and trash accumulation, and proximity to surface waters.

They may want to increase street sweeping and amend schedules for areas of concern. Schedules should include sweeping at least once a year. Here in Bozeman we are prone to snowfall, the City of Bozeman Stormwater division conducts street sweeping as soon as possible after the snow melts. This year they will begin April 1st. Removal of the accumulated sand, grit and debris from roads after the snow melts reduces the amount of pollutants that subsequent storms can mobilize.

In one case the City of Dana Point, California, reported a monthly debris intake of 23 tons when it conducted sweeping twice a month. Dana Point then moved to weekly sweeping and the monthly total increased to between 45 and 80 tons of debris (Franklin Soil and Water Conservation District, 2017).