Best Practices for Waste Disposal in Street Sweeping

Street sweeping is more than just keeping roads free of debris. A big part of it is managing the waste you collect in a responsible way. Handling waste properly is a crucial part of the job for street sweeping and paving contractors. It may not always be glamorous, but it’s a necessary piece of the puzzle that keeps things running smoothly, keeps you compliant with local regulations and helps avoid costly fines.

Let’s walk through some practical best practices for handling street sweeping waste to help your business operate more efficiently and stay in line with environmental rules!

Know What You’re Collecting

When your sweepers are out there cleaning up streets, they’re collecting all kinds of material. You’re most likely dealing with a mix of dirt, leaves, litter, oil and — on some occasions — hazardous waste like chemicals or other contaminants. Understanding what’s in that mix is the first step to figuring out how to handle it properly.

Generally speaking, street sweeping waste falls into two buckets:

  • Non-hazardous waste: Think dirt, leaves, sand and everyday trash like wrappers and plastic bottles.
  • Hazardous waste: This might include things like motor oil, industrial chemicals and other pollutants that can harm the environment.

You don’t want to mess around with guessing here. Regularly testing the waste your sweepers pick up can help you figure out whether or not you’re dealing with hazardous materials that require special disposal methods. Keeping these materials separate from the start can save you time, money and headaches down the road.

Don’t Mix Hazardous With Non-Hazardous Waste

If hazardous and non-hazardous waste gets mixed together, the entire load has to be treated as hazardous. This complicates disposal and raises costs, so keep things sorted from the get-go.

Stay On Top of Local Regulations

Regulations around waste disposal can vary depending on where you’re operating. What’s allowed in one state or city might be a no-go in another. If you don’t follow the rules, you could be looking at some huge fines. As a general rule, non-hazardous waste can go to a landfill or be recycled, but hazardous waste requires more specific handling.

Key regulatory areas to keep in mind are:

  • Landfill limits: Many areas have restrictions on what types of waste can be sent to landfills, especially if the waste is contaminated or mixed.
  • Stormwater compliance: Street sweeping helps prevent pollutants from getting into storm drains, but you might need to comply with local stormwater permits, like a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.
  • Hazardous waste handling: When you’re dealing with hazardous materials, work with licensed facilities that specialize in proper disposal.

Staying up to date with local regulations will save you from potential penalties and make sure your operation is compliant.

Get the Right Gear for the Job

Handling waste properly isn’t just about what you’re collecting — it’s also about how you store and transport it. Street sweepers often pick up wet or contaminated materials, which means you need the right kind of containers and equipment to avoid leaks or spills.

Some best practices for handling waste include:

  • Using water-tight containers to keep liquids and contaminants from leaking out
  • Labeling your containers so everyone knows what’s hazardous and what’s not
  • Regularly cleaning and maintaining your disposal sites to avoid buildup and environmental hazards

Consider investing in automated equipment to help sort and handle materials. This can reduce labor costs and help streamline your disposal process.

Recycling: Save Money and Help the Environment

Not everything your street sweepers collect has to be dumped in a landfill. A lot of materials can be recycled, which not only cuts down on disposal costs but is also a greener way to run your business.

For example:

  • Organic debris like leaves and grass can often be composted and used in landscaping.
  • Construction debris like gravel, sand and small chunks of asphalt can be repurposed for paving or road repairs.
  • Scrap metal picked up by sweepers can be sold to recycling facilities.

Recycling what you can reduce your landfill fees and create more sustainable operations.

Avoid Stormwater Contamination

One of the main goals of street sweeping is to keep pollutants from entering storm drains, so be mindful of how you store and dispose of waste. Here are a few simple ways to prevent stormwater contamination:

  • Cover your waste containers to stop rain from washing pollutants into drains.
  • Keep waste storage areas away from stormwater drainage spots.
  • Dispose of liquids like oil at hazardous waste facilities to prevent runoff into storm drains.

Protecting stormwater systems helps the environment and keeps you out of trouble with local authorities.

Keep Track of Your Waste Disposal

You should be documenting the waste you collect and how you dispose of it. Not only is it a good practice, but it’s often required to comply with regulations. Keeping thorough records will help you if you’re ever audited and show that you’re handling waste responsibly.

Track things like the volume of waste collected, where it was disposed of and whether it contained any hazardous materials.

There are plenty of digital tools out there that can make tracking waste much easier. Use them to keep your records up to date and avoid piles of paperwork.

Keep Your Waste Disposal Process Smooth

When it comes to street sweeping, managing waste is just part of the job, and getting it right is key to staying compliant and avoiding unnecessary costs. By understanding the waste you’re collecting, sticking to local regulations, and recycling when possible, you can streamline your operations and make waste disposal more efficient.

For more tips and expert advice on keeping your street sweeping business on track, subscribe to North American Sweeper magazine. Get the latest industry insights and stay ahead of the curve!

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