BALTIMORE, MD (March 20, 2014) – Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, along with Baltimore City Department of Public Works Director Rudolph S. Chow, P.E., announced today the expansion of mechanical street sweeping throughout Baltimore. This new program takes this important service, now performed mostly in certain blocks in the City’s central district and commuter routes, and moves it into every neighborhood.

“The expansion of mechanical street sweeping will be a significant boost to the City’s efforts to ‘Clean Up Baltimore!’ as thousands of tons of litter, animal waste, automotive fluids, grit and other pollutants will be swept away,” said Mr. Chow.
The expanded service starts Wednesday, April 2, and continues on the first through fourth Wednesday of each month, weather permitting. Sweeping hours will occur between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on designated sweeping days.

“I’m delighted that street sweeping is being expanded to neighborhoods throughout the City,” said the Mayor. “All of Baltimore deserves this important service in order to help keep our neighborhood streets clean and our waterways clear of trash and harmful pollutants. This is one more way we are working to make Baltimore healthier, greener, and a more inviting place to live and work.”
Initially, the expansion will occur as follows:

In the City’s Northwest and Southeast quadrants, odd sides of the street will be swept on the first Wednesday of the month and even sides will be swept on the second Wednesday.

In the Northeast and Southwest quadrants, odd sides of the street will be swept on the third Wednesday of each month and the even sides will be swept on the fourth Wednesday.

Parking restrictions will not be posted in the quadrants. Residents are urged to move their vehicles and other obstructions on their sweeping days in order to make the service as effective as possible.

Expanded sweeping in the Central District, where routes are already posted, will be rolled out over a period of months as schedules are posted on street signs. Residents in these neighborhoods will be notified in advance of the changes and will have to move their vehicles on designated sweeping days.

Residents will receive postcards later this month informing them of their sweeping days, and they can also check by calling 311 or by visiting the interactive map at cityview.baltimorecity.gov.

Residents are reminded that street sweeping is not a substitute for bagging leaves and other yard waste, or for properly disposing of trash. Please do not blow, rake, or pile leaves in the street. The sweeper cannot pick up large loads of debris and those will be left for residents to remove. Residents should also keep the street in front of their house free of vehicles and other obstructions.

For questions about the program please contact the Department of Public Works, Bureau of Solid Waste at 410-396-5431.