Community Invited to Name Street Sweepers

March 5, 2026 - ROCHESTER, MNN. - Street sweeping season is underway in Rochester, helping keep neighborhoods clean and preventing debris from entering storm drains and polluting local waterways. To celebrate this important neighborhood service and the 20th anniversary of the A Litter Bit Better spring cleanup event, the City is holding a "Name the Street Sweepers" contest.

"Street sweeping is one of the ways we care for our neighborhoods and our water at the same time," said Rachel Strauss, Environmental Education Specialist. "Every pass of the sweeper helps protect water quality while improving the cleanliness and safety of neighborhood streets, and the naming contest is a fun way for residents to connect with this important work."

Even the best sweepers can't catch everything; community actions make a significant difference. Residents can support street sweeping efforts by:

• Using off-street parking when possible, which allows sweepers to clean closer to the curb where debris and pollutants collect

• Keeping trash and recycling cans behind the curb and out of the street, helping sweepers reach more of the street

• Keeping leaves, grass clippings and yard waste out of the street, which can clog storm drains and impact water quality

• Adopting a storm drain through adopt-a-drain.org, joining more than 12,000 volunteers working to keep waterways clean one grate at a time

Street sweeping isn't just about clean streets; it's about protecting water, preventing flooding and keeping Rochester a safer, healthier place to live.