Street Cleaning
About the
Street Cleaning Program
Street cleaning removes dirt and debris from City streets to
provide a healthy and safe environment for the citizens of Portland.
Street cleaning protects water quality, prevents physical damage to
pavements, and minimizes the burden on the sewer system from surface
debris. These services protect and enhance the livability of
residential neighborhoods and commercial industrial districts in the
City.
The street cleaning program sweeps 4,022 miles within the City of
Portland, including 1,990 miles of residential streets, 1,989 miles
of arterial streets, and 43 miles of streets in the central business
district.
Back to Top
Cleaning
the Central Business District
 |
Street cleaning activities in the
central business district includes a special treatment process
for the Transit Mall and Light Rail facilities, and
sweeping of pedestrian walkways and bike paths. |
The City mechanically cleans:
- residential streets, arterial streets, the central Business
District, subways, and stairways
- provides emergency response, such as de-icing streets and snow
removal
- coordinates with neighborhood associations to provide drop
boxes for clean up activities.
Back to Top
How
You Can Make A Difference In Your Neighborhood
- Remove grass or weeds that grow in the gutter. This will
reduce debris in front of your house and will improve water run
off during rainstorms.
- Report abandoned autos to the City’s Abandoned Auto Hotline
at 503-823-7309
- Properly trim your street trees so the sweeper can clean next
to the curb. If you need to prune trees in the right of way,
Contact the City Forester at 503-823-4489 for a free permit and
trimming tips
- Organize or participate neighborhood clean ups.
- If you own a pet, please obey the City’s “scoop law.”
Your neighbors will love you for it.
- Tell your children the benefits of a clean neighborhood and
encourage them to dispose of litter properly.
Back to Top
Street Cleaning Policy
The City of Portland cleans only streets with curbs. This policy
was initiated after a 1979 Street Cleaning Study presented to the
City Council found that 97 percent of street debris lies within 40
inches of the curb. The accumulation of debris at the curb is caused
by the design of the street and vehicular movement. Streets are
designed with a crown in the middle sloping toward the sides. Water
and debris move toward the curb and gutter areas. Vehicle movement
scatters debris to the edges of traffic lanes. Streets with no curbs
are affected by the same factors as curbed streets, but with no curb
the debris is dispersed onto areas adjacent to the paved surfaces.
Uncurbed streets are, in effect, self-cleaning. The policy
recommendation of the study was that “no residential or arterial
blockface be swept with a street sweeper unless a minimum of 75
percent of its length is curbed.”
Back to Top
Other
Related Services:
How to
Contact Us:
|
Contact: |
Street Cleaning |
|
Phone: |
(503) 823-1750 or (503) 823-1778 |
Print-friendly version
