Summer Road Sweeping: Clean Streets, Clean Air

As local authorities face the challenges of summer road sweeping in the next few months, Paul Beddows, Sales Director at Dawsongroup emc, explains how the firm’s electric fleet can keep towns and cities clean and safe.   

As the temperature rises and the days get longer, the volume of town and city footfall is set to increase significantly as people embrace the summer months. However, it’s also a season that presents unique challenges for those responsible for keeping our streets clean and safe.

From a lack of rain washing away excess dust and dirt, to mechanical weeding and outdoor public events, local authorities have a huge task on their hands fighting against the elements. Here, we outline the top three obstacles to overcome, and what to look out for when choosing the right tools for the job. 

Lack of Rain

One of the biggest challenges of summer road sweeping is the lack of rain. Summer is a dry season, which means that there is less rainfall to wash away dust and debris from the streets. This can be particularly challenging in crowded cities where the constant movement of people and vehicles can kick up dust, making the streets dirty.

To get the upper hand on dusty streets, local authorities need a road sweeper with effective dust suppression methods, such as a built-in high-pressure washer and multiple brushes that capture and contain all the dirt and debris in a large capacity hopper.

Mechanical Weeding Season

Summer is also mechanical weeding season. This is where highway maintenance teams use special equipment to remove weeds from pavements and roadsides without the use of chemicals. This method is a vital part of road maintenance, but it can also create additional cleaning needs.

As the weeds are removed, they leave behind soil and debris on the roads. Sweeping this dirt promptly is the most efficient response. When road sweeping teams follow mechanical weeders to collect any mess left behind, it minimises the impact and ensures that public areas are kept clean and safe.

Higher Outdoor Footfall

Summer is also the season for more outdoor public events, such as concerts, festivals, and sports fixtures. While these events are a great way to enjoy the summer, they can also create additional cleaning needs for road sweeping teams.

With more people and activity on the streets, there’s an increased risk of littering and debris. To keep the roads clean, road sweeping teams need to work closely with event organisers to ensure that any waste is promptly removed.

Space to Breathe

When you have the right tools for the job, effective summer road sweeping can tackle all the issues outlined above with ease. It can also have a positive impact on air quality by removing dust and pollen from road surfaces which prevents it from circulating into the air.

All of this can be achieved without negatively impacting the environment by embracing a green cleaning strategy.

Our range of electric road sweepers can help keep towns and cities safe and clean, whilst keeping emissions lean and green. Our prestigious fleet includes the Lynx Charge compact sweeper and the Bucher MaxPowa V65e truck mounted sweeper, which both boast significant environmentally friendly credentials, without compromising on first-class performance.

The Lynx Charge features 2m³ container capacity and unparalleled power. Built on the same platform as the diesel-powered Lynx, the Charge uses a custom-designed battery pack and innovative systems to utilise available energy.

The Bucher MaxPowa V65e is 100% electric, offering a solution for zero emissions sweeping combined with longer on-station time, ease of use, and low operational costs. 

Both eco-friendly sweepers are available on flexible contract hire through our Smarter Asset Strategy. This provides local authorities with various options, giving them access to the latest green street cleaning technology on a flexible, affordable basis, without the need for major financial outlay. We also offer short term options, with one to thirteen week hire periods.

Get In Touch Today

With summer just around the corner, it has never been a better time to go green with your road sweepers and access the very best tools for the job. Get in touch today to find out how we can support you this summer.