What are street cleaners called now?

Do you see those big trucks with brushes cleaning our streets? Ever wonder what we call the people who drive them? Let’s learn about street cleaners and the many names they go by today.

Modern Names for Street Cleaners

Street cleaners have many names now. Here’s what they are called in 2023:

Name	What They Do	Where They Work
Street Cleaner	Sweep sidewalks, pick up trash, use cleaning machines	Public streets and roads
Sanitation Worker	Remove trash, keep areas clean, follow safety rules	Cities and towns
Transit Cleaner	Clean subway stations, steps, platforms, and bathrooms	Public transportation areas
Commercial Cleaner	Clean offices, schools, and stores	Private businesses
General Cleaner	Vacuum, mop, and dust	Buildings and indoor spaces

Tools and Machines Used by Street Cleaners

Modern street cleaners use many tools to keep our streets clean:

• Big sweeping trucks with spinning brushes
• Vacuum systems to pick up small trash
• Water sprayers to wash away dirt
• Hand tools like brooms and trash pickers
• Special machines for picking up leaves

Job Tasks of Today’s Street Cleaners

Street cleaners do many important jobs:

1. Sweep sidewalks to remove dirt and trash
2. Empty trash cans along streets and in parks
3. Pick up litter from public spaces
4. Drive cleaning machines on roads
5. Report problems like broken street lights or potholes
6. Clean public bathrooms in transit areas
7. Remove snow from walkways in winter
8. Clean up after storms

Skills Needed by Modern Street Cleaners

To be a good street cleaner today, a person needs:

• Good eyes for seeing small trash and dirt
• Strong body for bending, kneeling, and lifting things
• Knowledge of cleaning products and how to use them safely
• Ability to follow rules and work schedules
• Teamwork skills for working with others

Why Street Cleaners Are Important

Street cleaners help us in many ways:

• They keep our towns looking nice
• They stop trash from blocking drains
• They help prevent flooding
• They make streets safer for cars and people
• They protect our water from pollution
• They help prevent diseases by removing trash

How to Become a Street Cleaner

Want to be a street cleaner? Here’s how:

1. Finish high school
2. Learn to drive special trucks and machines
3. Get a driver’s license
4. Apply for jobs with your city or town
5. Be ready to work outside in all weather
6. Learn about safety rules for cleaning

Some places, like the MTA in New York, plan to hire Transit Cleaners in 2025 . They pick people from a list to interview for jobs.

Street Cleaning Schedules

Most cities have set days for street cleaning. This helps people know when to move their cars so the cleaning trucks can reach the curb.

Cities post signs that say:

• What days streets will be cleaned
• What times the cleaning happens
• Where not to park during cleaning

Special Street Cleaning Vehicles

Special trucks help keep our streets clean. These include:

• Road Sweeper Trucks that pick up dirt with spinning brushes
• Street Maintenance Vehicles for fixing roads and cleaning them
• Electric Sweeping Trucks that are better for our air
• Municipal Street Dust Control Vacuum Trucks that suck up small dust
• Zero-Emission Electric Vacuum Sweeper Trucks that don’t make pollution

Changes in Street Cleaner Jobs

Street cleaner jobs have changed over time:

Old Days:

• Used hand brooms and carts
• Worked only in big cities
• Focused just on picking up trash

Today:

• Use high-tech machines
• Work in towns of all sizes
• Focus on cleaning and the environment
• Need training to use special equipment
• Follow strict safety rules

Facts About Street Cleaners

Did you know?

• The MTA plans to hire Transit Cleaners starting in April 2025
• Most cleaning job posts now ask for skills using cleaning equipment
• “Sanitation Worker” is used three times more in job posts than “street cleaner”
• Street cleaners need physical strength and attention to detail
• Commercial cleaners may work in offices, schools, hospitals and stores

How to Help Street Cleaners

We can all help keep our streets clean:

• Put trash in trash cans
• Don’t litter on streets or sidewalks
• Move your car on street cleaning days
• Pick up after pets
• Thank street cleaners for their hard work

Conclusion

Street cleaners today might be called Sanitation Workers, Transit Cleaners, or still just Street Cleaners. No matter what name they go by, they do important work keeping our cities and towns clean and safe.

These workers use special trucks and tools to clean our public spaces. Next time you see someone cleaning your street, remember they are helping make your town a better place to live!