OC O&M - Sweeping
Sweeping:
Street sweeping is identified by the Environmental Protection Agency as a Best Management
Practice (BMP) for water quality control improvement. Street sweeping removes trash
and debris, as well as sediment, fertilizers, heavy metals and floatable material
before it can reach our oceans.
Since the County began the local street sweeping program in July, 2000 over 8,000,000
pounds of street waste and debris has been sent to the dump rather than to our ocean.
The enforcement of no parking during street sweeping operations allows the sweeper
to collect all this debris.
During a limited study conducted in June, 2004, approximately 100 pounds of street
waste was collected per mile swept. This included green waste (99%) and human generated
waste (1%) like paper, motor oils, fuels, copper, zinc (most likely from automotive
use), cigarette butts, oils and greases.
The County of Orange contracts out the street sweeping to different vendors, including
cities. By obeying the "No Parking for Street Sweeping" signs we all are
participating in protecting our beaches and ocean from further pollution. Thanks
for your help.
If you notice an debris on a county street, you may submit a
 service request or contact
the Operations & Maintenance office at
(714) 955-0200.
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