PHILADELPHIA – Department of Sanitation Commissioner, Crystal Jacobs Shipman, announces the return of the weekly seasonal Mechanical Cleaning Program. The 2025 season runs Tuesday, April 1 through Thursday, October 30, 2025. The Mechanical Cleaning Program aligns with Mayor Parker’s approach to addressing quality of life issues by providing residents with an opportunity to see first-hand how the City is making Philadelphia neighborhoods clean, green, and more vibrant.

Through the City’s investment in street cleaning, the Department of Sanitation provides cleaning in 14 neighborhoods identified through the Litter Index as having the highest concentration of litter.  The 2025 Mechanical Cleaning Program will launch on Tuesday, April 1 in the following areas:

  • Frankford: Frankford Ave to Keystone St from Levick Ave to Bridge St
  • Germantown: Berkley St. to Chelten Ave. from Pulaski Ave. to Wakefield St.
  • Kensington: 2nd St. to Kensington Ave. from Tioga St. to Lehigh Ave.
  • Logan: Broad Street to Mascher St from Godfrey Ave to Roosevelt Blvd.
  • Nicetown: Broad St. to Hunting Park Ave. from Allegheny Ave. to Clarrissa/Windrim Ave; 20th St, to 15th from Logan/ Lindley St. to Wagner Ave.
  • North Central: Broad St. to 22nd St. from Diamond Ave. to Allegheny Ave.
  • Paschall: 58th to 70th from Cobbs Creek to Dicks Av
  • Point Breeze: Christian St. to McKean St. from Broad St. to 24th St.
  • Port Richmond:  Kensington Ave. to Aramingo Ave. from Tioga St. to Lehigh Ave.
  • South Philly:  McKean St. to Oregon Ave. from 4th St. to 8th St.
  • Southwest: Woodland Ave. to Kingsessing Ave. from 49th St. to Cemetery Ave. and 58th to 61st from Cobbs Creek to Kingsessing Av
  • Strawberry Mansion: Allegheny Ave to Diamond Ave from 22nd to 33rd Sts.
  • West Fairhill:  Front to 13th St. from Glenwood Ave. to Diamond St.
  • West Philly: Parkside to Spring Garden from 52nd St to 40th St.
Vehicle Relocation and Parking:
To facilitate a more detailed cleaning, there will be restricted parking on some streets in all 14 areas. Streets wide enough to accommodate relocation of vehicles. Some of the routes in the expanded mechanical cleaning pilot program will require residents to move their vehicles.

Mechanical broom cleaning is most effective when the brooms can reach the curb lines. The City’s densely populated neighborhoods present challenges when relocating vehicles. The areas can be tight and finding parking spots can be scarce. Therefore, relocation of vehicles will be selected based on the width of each block.

No Parking signage during specified times is posted in all 14 areas. Parking is restricted between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., on a staggered schedule. Alternate street parking intervals will be staggered from 9 – 11 a.m.,11 a.m. – 1 p.m., and 1 – 3 p.m. The program will operate four days per week, Monday through Thursday excluding City-observed holidays. Any unplanned obstacles, i.e., blocked streets or mechanical failure may cause a delay or cancellation for the day. Efforts will be made to service locations as quickly as possible.

Enforcement:
For the success of the program and to avoid fines, motorists must adhere to the parking restrictions listed on the posted signs. To encourage residents to become reacclimated to the parking restrictions, there will be a warning period for all 14 sections. Beginning on Monday, April 14, posted “No Parking” signs will be enforced with assessed fines.  The Parking Authority will be issuing tickets to vehicles parked on the roadway during specified no parking times through Thursday October 30, 2025.

Background:
The Mechanical Cleaning Program will be a hybrid of mechanical sweeping, sidewalk litter and trash removal, and trash compactor removal. The Department will continue to evaluate and adjust logistics as necessary to ensure the program is operating effectively and efficiently. Some streets in each pilot area may have sidewalk cleaning maintenance along with mechanical broom cleaning weekly. Mechanical street cleaning is an effective tool in reducing litter from city streets and preventing trash and debris from entering the water systems.

This program is more comprehensive than standard mechanical sweeping. Equipment used in some areas will help to clear loose litter on sidewalks and other items not easily accessible with a standard mechanical sweeper. The equipment includes mechanical brooms (large and small), sidewalk sweepers, push brooms, and trash compactors used to remove illegally dumped materials. Backpack blowers will be used as part of the launch but not on all streets. They are an effective tool when clearing debris from sidewalks and on small streets where the mechanical broom is unable to fit. Residents should become accustomed to the new parking restrictions and become familiar with City sanitation regulations. To ensure proper cleaning is maintained, SWEEP Officers will patrol neighborhoods to educate residents on sanitation violations related to trash and litter and may issue warnings on vehicles not moved during designated times.

To minimize the inconvenience during parking restrictions, residents are urged to utilize SweepPHL, a web-based map that allows residents to track and monitor the progress of the mechanical broom. The online tool is housed on StreetSmartPHL.phila.gov. Residents can also find the latest Litter Index scores on the site.

Residents are reminded that the Mechanical Street Cleaning Program supports community led efforts to clean blocks. City Sanitation regulations must be adhered to including setting trash out on regular collection day in the authorized location. Only household trash should be set out for pick up. Visit www.phila.gov/sanitation for specific regulations.

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