Street Sweeping

The Streets Division maintains a monthly schedule for sweeping publicly owned commercial and residential streets (program funded by Stormwater Fees, as seen on utility bills).

We sweep at approximately the same time each month (however, delays may occur due to weather, holidays, and vehicle maintenance).

To see when your street is swept, see our maps (insert maps – static or GIS?) ***EDIT THIS***

Regular sweeping prevents large debris (leaves, trash) and fine pollutants (oil, sediment, chemicals) from clogging storm drains. This helps prevent street flooding and keeps harmful contaminants out of local rivers and waterways, protecting water quality and public health. It also improves road safety, appearance, and removes winter de-icing materials. 

We also sweep monthly to meet our regulatory requirements for stormwater management. Tualatin is a co-implementer on the Clean Water Services (CWS) watershed-based National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit for managing stormwater runoff. Maintenance obligations are outlined in our Stormwater Master Plan, Section 6.1

• Remove garbage cans, yard debris receptacles, and recycling carts, from the street once trash is collected.
• When possible, move your vehicles off the street before street sweeping (or that morning). We sweep both sides of the street the same day.
• Remind your neighbors of the street sweeping schedule so they can move their vehicles.
• Move basketball hoops before sweeping day.
• Trim or remove any vegetation, including trees, within or extending over the street, interfering with the use of the sidewalk or roadway, or obstructing a driver’s view.

You do!  Tualatin Municipal Code Section 6-1-210(4) states it is the responsibility of the property owner to dispose or recycle leaves and yard debris on private property, including the sidewalk and planter strip.

For Street Sweeping: Sweepers are typically designed to pick up light debris and natural leaf fall (leaves that drop directly from trees onto public roads and gutters). They are not designed to handle large, concentrated piles or excessive amounts of leaves.

For Storm Drains: Large piles of leaves and debris can block or clog the storm drains and cause localized street flooding. Flooding and pollution problems in storm drains, gutters, catch basins, urban detention areas, swales and wetlands cause water quality in neighborhood streams and the Tualatin River to deteriorate. In Tualatin, wastewater and stormwater systems are separate, which means that water flowing into neighborhood storm drains goes directly into our waterways without treatment.

Consider “leaving” them in your yard:

• It’s a great option that provides habitat and food for wildlife as well as improves soil health. You can just let them lay where they fall, which provides habitat for insects and in turn food for birds during the winter months and is a great way to avoid yard work! 
• Another option is to mow them into your yard. This will help them compost faster but still provide many of the same benefits of “leafing” them alone. Metro and the Xerces Society of Portland have some great information about the benefits of leaving your leaves as well.
• If you go this route, please be sure to keep your sidewalk clear and passable. Leaves can build up and become slippery in the rain. 

These options are a great way to safely and responsibly get rid of leaves:

• Put your leaves and yard debris in your yard debris container from Republic
• Bring it to a yard debris drop-off event (typically twice per year, spring and fall)
• Bring it to a third-party disposal site