The 2017 Los Angeles Marathon Cleanup

Another year, another marathon...
Naturally the goal of this year's marathon video was to be bigger and better than last year's-and I succeeded. This year I started my journey bright and early around 8am in Downtown LA and finished a little before 4pm in Santa Monica (the longest I've spent actively filming a single video). I'm very pleased how it turned out and you'll get a good look at the massive cleanup operation that takes place after the marathon in all 4 cities the marathon passes through. This video has it all, from front loaders to wheel loaders, from rear loaders to sweepers, from automated side loaders to semi-trailer dump trucks, from PB loaders to flatbeds.
First up we have the City of Los Angeles Bureau of Street Services' breathtaking operation-3 semi trailer dump trucks, 2 Caterpillar loaders, 4 PB loaders, and 12 street sweepers plus dozens of extra laborers. The Cats are the first to come through, grabbing the largest piles and boxes and load them directly into the dump trailers. Then the PB loaders pass through and grab whatever they can, and leaving the sweepers to get everything left over. When the sweepers fill up they can dump on-site into any of the dump trailers or PB loaders. The highlight of LA's operation for me was definitely the PB loaders as they are normally very hard to film, not to mention the fact they pulled out one of (if not the last) 2005 Peterbilt, which I thought were long gone.
From LA proper (Downtown to Hollywood), we head to the City of West Hollywood where Athens was running one front loader for the large stuff, and leaving the rest of the work to a large handful of sweepers from CleanStreet.
After West Hollywood, we move onto Beverly Hills. Here the city was running 3 rear loaders and two tractors for the big stuff and a fleet of sweepers for the rest. The rear loaders included their Freightliner McNeilus (not seen in the video) and their brand new 2017 CCC LET2/New Way Cobra, each of which were paired up with a tractor. The Cobra looks awesome with its light setup on the cab and black rims, not to mention it has an exceptionally fast packer. Also running was their little New Way Diamondback manually collecting whatever it could.
Lastly we head to the last 3 miles of the marathon in Santa Monica (LA was running the exact same fleet in Century City and Westwood that they had been earlier, so it didn't make it into the video). Unlike the other cities, Santa Monica had plopped down roughly 70 300 gallon containers at all of the water stations to contain as much material as possible to make the cleanup process much simpler. Santa Monica's fleet consisted of 2 automated side loaders, 3 flatbeds, 4 sweepers and a handful of little dump trucks. The side loaders passed by first to empty all of the 300s. This would've been the perfect time for a couple Scorpions to shine but unfortunately both drivers working haven't been trained on them yet so they were left with 2 slow Curbtenders. After the Curbtenders pulled through the flatbeds followed with a handful of workers to grab, stack, and haul all of the empty 300s. Then finally the sweepers swept through to leave everything nice and shiny. The dump trucks kinda did their own thing and grabbed all the cardboard trash cans and anything else large.
In the end, I left with about 90 minutes of footage... This is the edited version, but the PB Loaders from LA City and the Santa Monica Curbtenders will be getting their own full videos. I had a great time traveling across the city, and many thanks to the many city employees and other workers moving quickly and efficiently to get the roads back open. Filmed March 19th, 2017 between Downtown LA and Santa Monica.

[@JMANWiSS]

Just like mowing a really long yard, watching a huge sweeping operation like this is very satisfying.

[@stevenclark6209]

The trucks with the bucket don't do a great job the sweepers eat it up good video.

[@jimcummer681]

AMAZING can’t believe all of the equipment for cleanup!!! A well oiled machine! Great job!!!

[@lidsman2221]

Thanks for posting this video. I never really think of the massive effort that it takes to clean up something like this. Great job by all the street cleaners.

[@ASLman237]

Incredible video. Loved seeing how each city handled things. Particularly liked seeing all of the street services trucks.

[@WasteManTony]

yup, the whole operation is quite interesting. thanks

[@michaeldobberstein5365]

A couple skidloaders with broom attachments would have been easier than scraping the streets to hell

[@alfredperea9771]

Cool video I like the cat and yellow semi truck

[@poohmaster54]

THIS VIDEO IS AMAZING! 2 things I loved in the video are the Elgin Broom Bears because I'm just an Elgin fan ☺ and the final things is the CCC New Way! Thanks for even going out and filming for this long!

[@WasteManTony]

thanks! yeah, Broom Bears certainly seem to be a favored sweeper. The Santa Monica drivers all said they would rather have them than the Tymcos.

[@PeterMackett]

The suction sweepers do a much more efficient job than the mechanical ones.

[@wolfmansicario4993]

Peter Mackett ..they also cause more asphalt erosion than the mechanical ones..

[@Gib404]

Great video, I loved all the trucks 👍

[@WasteManTony]

thanks

[@Simcobarker]

Nice work! Loved the curb tender collecting all those 300 gals. It's kinda sad in my opinion how everyone just throws there cups and garbage on the ground after these runs.

[@WasteManTony]

thanks! lol as a runner I can tell you it definitely feels a little weird but it's what you're supposed to do.

[@sandraalbeno2273]

WasteManTony 33

[@zanjani13]

Lots of great Action!

[@WasteManTony]

thanks!

[@avontaprice9661]

I really like that 2017-2018 John Deere compact front end loader and that attachment :-)

[@SuperOptimus217]

I bet all those recyables went to the landfill..

[@WasteManTony]

Santa Monica recycled their's, Beverly Hills and Athens sent their's to a dirty MRF, but I don't know what LA did with their stuff.

[@LJT7907]

Just think if they would have ticketed all those runners for littering, they could have made a fortune

[@avontaprice9661]

I really like those side loader garbage trucks :-)

[@avontaprice6296]

Man I love this video so much😄😄😄😄😄😄😄😁😁😁☺😀😀😀😃😃😃😊😊😀😀

[@natestrains1166]

These streets are messier than my room.

[@andrewcampbell6276]

What a mess , lucky they got all those trucks to hit it all at once , great job

[@khyrong9977]

I bet he feels special with that police escort

[@WMmaster626]

Awesome work! One thing that entertains me every time is always the sheer amount of cups that they have to pick up. Loved the shot at 2:35 of the PB Loaders simultaneously lifting their buckets. That Pete one sure looks good, I was surprised to see one still around. 4:04 was a terrific shot with all the street sweepers coming through...wow. Any idea what was in the yellow jus at 6:06? 6:43 was a nice side by side comparison of the old and new M2 (personally like the old style better). That moving shot of the PB loader sure was cool. Not gonna lie, those PB loaders actually look like fun to drive. Definitely looking forward to more footage of those. The amount of cups underneath that Athens truck was insane! Surprised they brought less trucks out this year compared to last if I remember correctly. Bev Hills crew was fun to watch. SaMo's collection method was really neat. Lots of water bottles there. Seeing them roll the 300s back to the flatbed made me realize 300s aren't as heavy as I originally thought haha Great job to you and all the crews!

[@WasteManTony]

thanks! they used a special gatorade concentrate that had to be mixed with water, so the water jugs they had ended up being used to mix the gatorade concentrate with water (simple answer is just "Gatorade" lol). Yeah, Athens had two trucks running last year; I guess they must've not filled them up too much which constituted only using one this year. 300s are actually surprisingly lightweight and even when full can be slid across the ground with relative ease. Thanks again!

[@diegoperez2090]

Imagine how many fines for littering cops could issue on that day at this place...

[@Doggio_]

ikr

[@michaelmactavish1728]

its like that here in my town in canada but we cant control the littering people wich gives us more work with the sweeper when no other job to do

[@garbage854]

Cool video, good variety of trucks :)

[@WasteManTony]

thanks!

[@garbage854]

Welcome :)

[@Callium248]

I always put my cup in the trash can when I run races like this. I can understand for elite runners, but walkers and joggers should too I think.

[@stefanvanveenendaal5741]

Those PB loaders shunting stuff around are a pity to watch. They don't really help with the clean up.

[@b21playa]

Stefan van Veenendaal agreed, waste of time. Sweepers were much better

[@MarcPhillip911]

Bunch of so called expert's

[@AsloAso]

b21playa that said those type of sweepers ain’t that great at sweeping either, saw a few in this video alone spitting out rubbish.

[@El_Transportacoches_33]

2:56: What is that? A wedge truck? 20:14: Why do you have brushes on the front fenders? To protect the fenders from falling debris during loading?

[@sthdz2932]

Slowing down a bit would probably help because they clean it up and most of it just falls out the side of the trucks

[@wolfmansicario4993]

Sergio Hernandez ...do you even know how a sweeper operates??

[@huh3721]

Still surprised to see in 2017 that trucks do not have side guards to prevent cars going underneath trailer like in Europe

[@Truckster_Metfan91]

Natural selection

[@litchar]

Would a prairie farmer use 8 to12 tractors to cover a swath 50 feet wide? Would a farmer do it in such a sloppy maner as to have to go back over the same place 3 or 4 times to do one operation? I think L.A. needs a farm family to show them how to clean up the mess they have.

[@Jmatoon1]

my thoughts exactly. seems like a pretty inefficient operation. Must be a government job. ;)

[@wolfmansicario4482]

lmao..like saying a paintballer can teach a marine how to fight a battle..get serious...

[@danrossell6375]

How many tons of debris is picked up after the marathon?

[@settlesmart4436]

1,567,908 tons of garabge

[@kurtismckemmie4850]

@@settlesmart4436 are you serious?!

[@friendlyneighborhoodcow8776]

Maybe 10 tonnes at most

[@Stereo4102]

The sign on the green Curbtender reads "40% of the food in America is wasted"...while millions and millions in the world are starving. So sad!😢

[@brianspencer6955]

Excellent video. I love how so many different entities are working together, doing basically all the same thing but in so many different ways. I really admired how Santa Monica rolled out those 300's. Epic line at 22:00. I was like "hey look, another 300!" wait for it "Oh damn thats a lot of 300s" lol. Really good idea, imo. fun watching a cloud of plastic jugs fall out, probably pain to pack though. Did you guys get any cardboard trash cans? I know most people might not care for them but I think one would be cool to have. I also enjoyed seeing those PB loaders, seems like a really cool take on an automated dump truck thing. I am not really familiar with them, what are they regularly used for? Street sweepers were epic as always, super satisfying to watch suck up a pile of cups. Speaking of cups, what a shame all this waste is. So much plastic and cardboard, does it get recycled? Or at least composted? I really wish there were a better way to do this, like a way where everyone didn't just throw there stuff on the ground. But hey, made for an epic video :)

[@brianspencer6955]

also too bad the scorpions didn't show up, but the curbtenders were awesome nonetheless! Can't wait for the full video!

[@michaelmactavish1728]

wow quite alot of town maintance crew there

[@nicsanta1928]

They should use snowplow to put all of the garbage in a straight line and then pick it up with the loader

[@zp12684]

I was wondering if you were going to do another video like last year and sure enough you did! What a really neat variety LA city had! I love that shot at 4:00 where all the sweepers are coming down the road. Do you know what they use the semis for on a regular basis? I'm guessing like last year, nothing got recycled? I'm hoping that SM recycled it though, its pretty clean. Really great video overall. Can't wait for the other videos!!

[@WasteManTony]

No clue what they use the semis for actually; I rarely see them. Santa Monica recycled their's, Beverly Hills and Athens sent their's to a dirty MRF, but I don't know what LA did with their stuff. Thanks!

[@wolfmansicario4482]

la recycled their stuff also...all was taken to a mrf, like they take the residential recycling...

[@wolfmansicario4482]

and the semi trailers are used for site dumps for the sweepers when they do their routes...they are put out and moved daily to where they are needed..

[@63Z]

Imagine if everyone but has cup in the basket that will save a lot of time

[@irvinerefusetrucks1922]

Wish they did this to LA every day smh 🤦‍♂️

[@avontaprice9661]

at 15:56 I really like those garbage trucks :-)

[@shadofax96]

Holy cow that's quite an operation. :-O The scene in LA where the dozen sweepers came around the corner was epic! Just a question, and I actually feel silly asking this but what does the "PB" in PB Loader stand for?

[@WasteManTony]

shadofax96 I don't actually know but I think I might've heard somewhere it's the founder's initials. Thanks!

[@jordh591]

If only those runners would place their water cups in the appropriate receptacle you wouldn’t need add C02 to the atmosphere and trash to the landfill #liberalwhenitsconvienent

[@appleintosh]

Jord H You’re supposed to throw your cups on the ground during a marathon. That’s how the marathon officials want runners to do it.

[@kikomura5247]

La is like NYC they got the bucks to buy the best equipment

[@brad202684]

"Street Services" is a cover for Riot Control...

[@nfrsfury3214]

What?

[@brad202684]

@@nfrsfury3214 it’s a reference to the movie Soylent Green

[@nfrsfury3214]

@@brad202684 ahh well I’m to young to get that, but now I understand thanks

[@abelardorosas6349]

5 16 litter man

[@Asae2]

7:43 --lol trucks are not very effective. Most sweeping mashines in Germany France italia aso. are better disigned.

[@leonk.1031]

Asae2 Yeah they really can’t sweep good at all

[@RPRODUCTIONS-kr5bq]

I bet that they must q up. To dump the trash

[@paulstorer6937]

WOW 😲

[@no_more_free_nicks]

So what car do I have to buy to say that I'm running in America?

[@ThomasBMagwn]

that's how potholes are created!

[@telodijeperrapendeja5135]

nice video bro. to much trash . alot of recycling to lol. nice to see this .

[@WasteManTony]

thanks

[@Joshua79C]

i see alot being used a lot and its not the proper way of spelling it as i did the second time

[@lynx318therealone]

i.imgur.com/fxq7aFA.png

[@nycdan95]

5:19 guys throws shit on the ground

[@christopherlovelock9104]

Not being in your Country I have never seen a semi with the word 'zone' on the side, - what is the reason for this, also did the semi's have a moving floor, if not what was the 'long thing' slung underneath them. Very interesting video compared to what they use after the 'London Marathon' to clean up.

[@wolfmansicario4993]

Christopher Lovelock ....these trailers are used for the street sweepers to dump into when they get full....only place you cant dump is where it says "No Dump Zone" in red...and yes,they are a walking floor...

[@christopherlovelock9104]

Thank-you, - good idea saves a lot of wasted trips by the sweepers. Over here (UK) they have to go to the 'tip' every time they are full. Where I live the nearest one is 30 miles away so they spend half the day sweeping and the other half going to and from the 'tip', - they call it "Council Policy". But then our lot at the council are good at wasting residents money, - just as long as they get a 'fat' pay check every month. Most roads only get swept twice a year - (apart from the town centre and the few 'major roads'), and if vehicles are parked they just go round them and leave them another 6 months.......

[@wolfmansicario4993]

Christopher Lovelock ...wow,waste of time going to empty out....here in Los angeles,trailers are parked on designated side streets and some dump trucks are assigned to sweepers who are further out...

[@wolfmansicario4993]

Christopher Lovelock ....here in LA..we have what are called posted routes and open routes... posted routes are done weekly and open are typically done 3-4 times a year..

[@Alex_catz]

#LOVE L.A

[@Alex_catz]

Sub to sa Alex cats are cats

[@lfc23upstateny.11]

How much $$ to clean up like that

[@avontaprice9661]

why are those cops and the fire department pickup truck following them?

[@SlothsAreFunnyAndCreepyLooking]

Avonta Price I suppose it’s to clear the way when they drive, so they can go back and fourth faster. From what I saw the police were in front too so that’s what I’m guessing lol

[@notarookee778]

I wonder if an admission was charged to cover the cost of cleanup that those who attended would use a fucking trashcan.

[@jaquelinepereira7886]

gostei

[@Dan-nj7tr]

Would have been faster and cheaper if they had employed a bunch of convicts for pennies on the dollar.

[@masons3205]

That is werid

[@MrSaemichlaus]

This is the result of the collective lack of discipline of people. Just throw your garbage in a recycling bin ... who even pays for all of this work?

[@adamboone8880]

More homeless people then street sweepers

[@vivitar45]

all had to do have more trash cans available and save money and time in clean up

[@appleintosh]

vivitar45 How are you going to get hundreds of runners to all throw their cups into trash cans as they all pass by at once? Have them wait in line? They’re running a marathon.

[@kurtismckemmie4850]

What a huge waste of tax dollars!!!!

[@cadelapagerty]

mengapa itu penuh sampah?negara maju kok seperti itu ya

[@thespeakersreview99]

Habis marathon tong byk orang pasti byk sampah

[@marcosluciosilva2433]

Accursed KZbin I DISCOVERED That I live IN A LATE COUNTRY Wild and backward ☻#☻#☻#☻#☻#' I not know how to speak !!!!!!!!!!!!