Testing Street Sweepers for Microplastics: The First Multi-Model Sweeper Test in Over a Dozen Years
by Ranger Kidwell-Ross, editor
WorldSweeper.com
Thanks to the leadership of the City of Santa Barbara, along with the sponsorship of Sea Grant and NOAA, Roger Sutherland and I conducted the first-ever test of how well street sweepers can do for microplastics. To my knowledge, it was the first multi-model sweeper test since the one Sutherland conducted in 2011 in Burbank, CA. During the testing process, we were ably assisted by personnel from the City of SB as well as the University of California-Santa Barbara; the testing area was located and capably hosted by the City of Los Angeles. All of that made the process go as smoothly as possible.
Manufacturers Fayat Cleantech Solutions and Merit Sweeprite readily came on board willing to include their sweeper units in the test. However, no manufacturers of street sweepers sold in the U.S. participated. Although Stewart-Amos and CurbTender were both willing, unfortunately they were unable to test during the timeframe we had. The rest completely refused to test on the manufacturer involvement level. I found their reluctance inexplicable and have no way to know if it was due to fear of how well they'd do or for other reasons.
So, we had to obtain sweepers to test from other sources. Thanks to the City of LA, we tested an Elgin Broom Bear in good condition. Contractor Nationwide Environmental Services provided one of the 90+ TYMCO 600 machines it operates. Since we wanted to test another brand of regenerative sweeper we rented a Schwarze A4000 from a contractor.
However, it turned out to be a 2017 model that was not in good repair or operated all that well so we're not sure how to handle that poor data anomaly. When the anomaly occurred I contacted Schwarze corporate several times with an opportunity to provide one of their dealer machines for a re-test but the company's management team declined.
WorldSweeper will of course be following the data. However, we have every expectation that the results will show that all three types of standard sweeping technology will be the most cost-effective way to remove pavement-based pollutants.
Although air sweepers will likely top the list, there are many types of sweeping that require mechanical broom machines – which will likely be still shown to be the most cost-effective way to remove pollutants when compared to any other non-sweeping technology. We hope that later this year we will be able to share detailed results and discuss their implications for stormwater management and regulatory policy. The most important aspect should be how well the machines can do when it comes to micro- and nano-sized microplastics that are increasingly burdening our environment.
In the meantime, be sure to keep involving your communities in ways that showcase street sweeping and emphasize the environmental value it provides. After all, pavement sweeping has been shown again and again to be "The first line of defense for pavement-based pollution removal!"
As always, if you have questions and/or any news of potential interest to the power sweeping community, please let us know. Between this publication, the WorldSweeper.com website, and the World Sweeping Association, we'll be sure to get the information passed along to interested readers.
Good Sweeping,
Editor, WorldSweeper.com
Executive Director, World Sweeping Association
Member, PAVEMENT Hall of Fame
PS If you're a contractor I urge you to check out the many benefits of membership in the World Sweeping Association. Also, if you haven't 'liked' our WorldSweeper Facebook page, what are you waiting for? That's where we offer a variety of industry previews and updates on an ongoing basis.
July/August Newsletter Contents
(Scroll down to read stories or click on links below.)
- An Interview with Fayat's James Crockett and Sweeprite's Mark Nykamp on Microplastics Testing and the Future of Urban Stormwater Pollution Removal
- Stormwater Awareness Week in September Will Feature Info on Recent Microplastics Testing Process
- Developing the Best Street Sweeping Program Possible
- Caltrans Technical Memorandum: How Street Sweeping Reduces Urban Airborne Dust
- NMSA Public Meeting to Inform on Stormwater Management Issues
- NYC Now Has 'Car Sitters' for Sweeping Days
- Sweeprite Now Offers US Manufacturing at Detroit Facility
- Elgin Sweeper Introduces Advanced Digital Control Panel for Pelican Series Street Sweepers
- A Happy Street Sweeper Song for Kidz of All Ages
An Interview with Fayat's James Crockett and Sweeprite's Mark Nykamp on Microplastics Testing and the Future of Urban Stormwater Pollution Removal
The recent microplastics pickup performance testing initiative, funded by NOAA/Sea Grant, and led by the City of Santa Barbara, CA, in collaboration with the University of California at Santa Barbara (UCSB), was conducted in July 2025 at the LASAN's Donald C. Tillman Reclamation Plant in Van Nuys, CA.
James Crockett is National Dealer Development and Sales Manager for Fayat Cleantech America's RAVO and SCARAB sweeper product lines. Crockett was the Fayat Cleantech coordinator for the company's participation in the recent Sea Grant/NOAA microplastics testing process.
Mark Nykamp is North American Sales Manager for the Merit Sweeprite product line of mechanical broom sweepers. Nykamp was the Sweeprite coordinator for that company's participation in the recent Sea Grant/NOAA microplastics testing process.
Use this link to see the interview with James Crockett. Use this link to see the interview with Mark Nykamp. With both you will learn more about the microplastics study, since both contain embedded videos from the LASAN test site concerning the respective companies participation.
Stormwater Awareness Week in September Will Feature Info on Recent Microplastics Testing Process
Roger Sutherland and Ranger Kidwell-Ross had one of the top-rated webinars at their 2023 and 2024 webinars. This year they will be presenting their workshop on Wednesday, September 24th at 11am, Pacific. It will include a summary of results and implications from the July 2025 microplastics pick-up performance test.
The just-concluded field study represents the first multi-model street sweeper performance test of its kind in fourteen years, with special focus on the machines' ability to collect microplastics – a growing pollutant of concern worldwide. Their exchange will provide critical insight for operators, municipal purchasers, and especially the stormwater community responsible for keeping our cities clean.
Click here to link to the overview article that details the information that will be presented.
Developing the Best Street Sweeping Program Possible
WorldSweeper's Editor, Ranger Kidwell-Ross, has designed – with colleague Roger Sutherland – detailed guidelines for developing the best possible street sweeping program. First off, if you want to maximize removal of pollutants from your streets then there is no substitute for implementing a vehicle removal program.
However, there is no longer any need for cars to be gone for the 'standard' four hours. There are also a host of other ways to make your sweeping program be all it can be. Due to the importance of this document, presented by the two developers, we are reprising the information for this bi-monthly newsletter issue.
Check out their "Enhanced Sweeping Presentation" and/or their "Key Components of an Enhanced Street Sweeping Program" information.
Caltrans Technical Memorandum: How Street Sweeping Reduces Urban Airborne Dust
Caltrans' latest Technical Memorandum provides a comprehensive review of street sweeping's ability to reduce urban particulate matter (PM) through advanced technology and modern operational strategies.
The memo breaks down why dust on city streets matters, how new sweeper machines are shaping results, and what real-world studies reveal about actual air quality improvements. The linked article provides an overview of the study written by WorldSweeper's Editor, with a link to the actual CalTrans study included at the end.
Check out the article and, if you want, you may use the link provided to access the CalTrans study in its entirety.
NMSA Public Meeting to Inform on Stormwater Management Issues
The National Municipal Stormwater Alliance (NMSA) will be holding its 9th annual public meeting at StormCon in Orlando from 1-2:30pm (Eastern) on Tues, August 26, and as we have done in past years, this event will be broadcast as a webinar. During this event, NMSA staff and leadership will provide information on the status of NMSA, activities led by the organization in the last year, and anticipated areas of focus in 2026 and beyond.
Feedback will be provided on engagement with EPA as well as Capitol Hill on stormwater issues and programs. Legal rulings and policy dynamics impacting the stormwater sector will also be shared. EPA staff with ties to the stormwater sector and MS4 program have been invited to participate. In past meetings, EPA staff have shared planned activities and priorities within the Agency on stormwater issues. Webinar attendees are eligible for 1.5 PDHs.
Register for the webinar.
NYC Now Has 'Car Sitters' for Sweeping Days
Alternate side parking rules have long been the scourge of New York City car owners – but one Upper West Side woman has found a way to turn the city's automotive headaches into a business opportunity.
Dubbed "The Car Sitter," Sydney Charlet charges up to $50 to hold a spot for 90 minutes while sweeping regulations are in effect – a deal that undercuts the city's $65 alternate side parking tickets. "I figured, why not offer to sit in their cars for less than the cost of the initial fine?" she told the New York Post, which first reported the story.
Read about the innovative concept.
Sweeprite Now Offers US Manufacturing at Detroit Facility
Sweeprite, a Merit Manufacturing Company, has announced that due to on-going growth in Canada and the United States the company has opened a second manufacturing facility in Detroit, Michigan.
Sweeprite's new Detroit facility is producing the popular S2 Husky and S3 road sweepers for US customers. The first S2 Husky assembled in the United States rolled off the assembly line August 5, 2025. Sweeprite will be unveiling the first S2 Husky built in America at the PWX Show, August 17-20 in Chicago (booth 12001).
And the company has changed its logo in America to be...
Check out the press release.
Elgin Sweeper Introduces Advanced Digital Control Panel for Pelican Series Street Sweepers
Elgin Sweeper Company announced the introduction of a state-of-the-art digital control panel for its iconic Pelican series mechanical sweepers. The new touchscreen interface delivers intuitive operation, real-time diagnostics and smarter system integration to municipalities seeking greater efficiency and ease of use in their street sweeping programs.
"The Pelican is already known for its maneuverability and 360-degree visibility," said Chad Schiele, Elgin Product Manager. "The new digital control panel provides that next step in efficiency for operators, which helps sweeping programs increase productivity even more."
Check out the press release.
A Happy Street Sweeper Song for Kidz of All Ages
With a happy song by a street sweeper, what's not to like!
Watch the video by clicking on the graphic, above. Like this link, it will take you to YouTube to watch it.
Take a look at a link to this YouTube video as well as many other links for kids in our Toys section.
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