The Street Cleaning Division is responsible for maintaining clean public ways through a contractual (currently Millenium Sweeper) street sweeping operation which runs from April through December each year. Beginning in FY99, the street sweeping operation was extended through the end of December. This added month of street sweeping will ensure the cleanliness of Cambridge streets through the early winter months. Two contract sweepers are used to clean both residential streets and major City squares. The City squares are cleaned very early in the morning (between 4:00 AM and 8:00 AM). Approximately 11,000 street miles are cleaned each year while over 5,000 tons of street refuse is collected. At the end of each month, the sweepers also clean the industrial areas of Cambridge. This operation is augmented by the Division’s own work force which consists of eighteen full-time employees. In addition, this division also utilizes the services of several temporary employees during the fiscal year. These employees are used to help with both the litter pickup and the street-cleaning crews.

There are three street-cleaning crews which are fully equipped with several pieces of equipment, including 12 hand-held vacuum cleaners. These crews with their mechanical equipment, keep the streets and squares of Cambridge clean on a regular basis. The City squares are cleaned seven days per week from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and from 4:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. (street sweeping) and 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (DPW hand-cleaning crew) Saturday, Sunday and Holidays. This Division also has a small rubbish packer which collects litter twice daily from the City squares during the week and three times daily on weekends. The City of Cambridge street sweeping program is frequently reviewed by other cities and towns as a model for their own needs.