Leaf collection is a labor-heavy, costly chore for public works departments—especially during peak fall months. In West Lafayette, Indiana, the Street and Sanitation Department found an inventive way to streamline this process, save taxpayer money, and boost employee safety. The approach? Repurpose used street sweeper chassis into efficient, single-operator leaf vacuum units. This resourceful approach earned West Lafayette the Bold Steps Award in the national 2024 Build a Better Mousetrap recognition program.
Problem: Outdated equipment and workforce strain
Traditionally, West Lafayette’s leaf vacuum units were trailer-based systems requiring two operators: one to drive the truck and a second to stand on the trailer and handle the vacuum hose. This setup came with several challenges:
- It tied up two employees per truck, stretching a limited workforce.
- It required CDL Class A drivers, making staffing harder.
- It raised safety concerns for the operator riding exposed on the trailer.
- Budget constraints made purchasing new vacuum trucks—each costing over $200,000—unrealistic.
Solution: A DIY retrofit from retired equipment
Rather than buy new, the department staff thought creatively. Used street sweepers—retired because of mechanical failures in the sweeping mechanism—often had perfectly serviceable chassis and engines.
Working in-house, staff extended the frame of a used street sweeper and mounted a leaf vacuum unit directly to it. Then, they rewired the vacuum unit so the hose could be operated from inside the cab. The driver’s spot was relocated to the right-hand side of the unit for improved visibility and control—allowing a single Class B CDL operator to handle the entire job safely from inside the truck.
By the numbers: Big returns on a small budget
The pilot project used a street sweeper purchased for just $3,000, with another $1,500 spent on hydraulic hoses and mechanical parts. All labor was performed by in-house mechanics at approximately $50/hour.
- Total retrofit cost: $4,500
- Labor savings: More than $16,000 per truck annually
- Trucks converted: 5
- Total estimated annual savings: $80,000+
In addition, the change reduced the city’s dependency on hard-to-find Class A CDL drivers and improved worker safety by eliminating the need to stand on a moving trailer.
More information
For more about the project, contact Paul Kull at [email protected] or 765-775-5242.
Sponsored by the Federal Highway Administration, the Build a Better Mousetrap national recognition program highlights locally relevant, innovative solutions and provides a platform to share innovations to everyday challenges that local and tribal transportation professionals encounter on local roads. Individual LTAP centers across the country submit entries for award consideration. Learn more about the 2024 national awards and view videos of the winners.