The Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation announced on March 30 that the city’s annual street sweeping program will begin April 1 and continue through the end of November, weather permitting. The department will deploy mechanical sweepers at scheduled times to remove debris from both residential and arterial streets.
Street sweeping is part of the city’s efforts to keep neighborhoods clean, maintain safety, and promote equity in communities. According to the official website, the Chicago Department of Streets and Sanitation works to enhance safety and equity in neighborhoods across Chicago through services like street maintenance and rodent control according to the official website.
Commissioner Cole Stallard said, “Keeping Chicago streets clean is a top priority for the department, and we work hard year-round to ensure garbage and debris are picked up in all areas of our city. For street sweeping season, we ask residents to help us keep Chicago clean by following the parking restrictions related to street sweeping.”
Residents are reminded that bright orange signs indicating temporary parking restrictions will be posted two days before scheduled sweeps. Some streets also have permanent signs specifying when parking is prohibited for cleaning. Residents can track sweepers in real time using Sweeper Tracker or call 311 for more information about dates and locations.
The department employs more than 2,000 workers according to its official website. Its responsibilities include managing refuse collection, recycling programs, graffiti removal, rodent control measures, tree maintenance as well as meeting industry standards according to its official website. These municipal services focus on sanitation, recycling efforts, urban upkeep across all neighborhoods as stated by DSS.
In addition to street cleaning operations beginning this week, DSS continues providing garbage collection, snow removal services during winter months as well as graffiti elimination throughout Chicago’s communities according to its official website. The department says it strives for a safe environment on city streets while maintaining regular urban maintenance duties.
