From spring until fall Elk River Public Works crews are routinely running street sweepers through the city, picking up hazards to roads and waterways like sand, salt, leaves, grass clippings, litter and more.
Have you ever wondered what happens to that material once it’s swept up? In Elk River, sweeping debris has a designated drop-off location selected because of its proximity far from any waterways, adjacent to the Maintenance Facility. Recently, two years’ worth of sweeping debris totaling roughly 1,100 tons was removed from the site for disposal. Because the sweepings are made up of a variety of materials, it is not ideal for reuse on public land. The sweeping are deposited at a nearby landfill and used for daily cover.