In 2008, the Department of Public Works became the first metropolitan Washington jurisdiction to provide free personal document shredding every Saturday (except holidays), from 8 am to 3 pm, at the Ft. Totten Trash Transfer Station (3200 Bates Road, NE) and the Benning Road Trash Transfer Station (4900 Benning Road, NE).

As of June 12, 2009, residents with analog televisions who use an antenna or “rabbit ears” to get a picture, will need to obtain a digital-to-analog converter box, sign up for cable or satellite service or buy a digital television. DPW will accept residents’ old TVs at either transfer station or call 311, the Mayor’s Citywide Call Center, for a bulk collection appointment.

Every year, the Department of Public Works hosts about 200 young people enrolled in the Summer Youth Employment Program. In addition to their work activities, they are taught basic computer skills, introductory work skills, life skills, and current events through weekly field trips and development sessions. The summer sessions conclude with a basketball tournament and an appreciation and awards program.

The Department of Public Works uses technology for parking enforcement: License Plate Recognition Technology.

DPW introduced license plate recognition technology in its vehicle immobilization (booting) program in 2005.

DPW applied LPRT to the ROSA (Register Out-of-State Automobiles) program in 2007.

In 2008, DPW began using this technology to enforce parking regulations for residential and commercial street sweeping.

The centralized towing application is used to monitor and manage all vehicles towed from District streets, alleys and other public spaces. Use DPW’s online Towed Vehicle Locator or call 311 or the District’s Towing Control Dispatch Center at (202) 576-6071 to confirm a towed vehicle’s location.

At the impoundment lot for abandoned and dangerous vehicles, DPW uses a sophisticated lot management system to store vehicles, manage impound fees, and sell vehicles during the monthly online auctions.

The Department of Public Works supports the Presidential Inauguration activities by keeping the parade route and surrounding streets clear of trash and debris, ticketing and towing illegally parked vehicles from the parade route, and, if necessary, clearing snow and ice from the streets.

Rats prefer the undigested food in dog feces to rat bait, so please clean up after your dog.

The Department of Public Works Fleet Management Administration’s 35-ton wrecker vehicle can upright, lift and tow heavy duty equipment such as trash trucks, tractors or 10-wheel dump trucks.

Everyone profiled in the television documentary, “Not in OUR DC! Pledge to Keep the Capital Clean,” is a District resident who is inspiring others to take the pledge.

In 2005, the Department of Public Works became the first metropolitan Washington jurisdiction to provide single-stream residential recycling, which the US Environmental Protection Agency considers a best practice to increase recycling.

Every year, the Department of Public Works Helping Hand Program supports hundreds of community clean-ups by providing brooms, rakes, shovels and bags. After the clean-up, DPW crews collect the trash-filled bags.

The Department of Public Works uses technology extensively to increase program effectiveness: Automated Routing Technology.

Bulk trash collection appointments have a 99 percent on-time average because collection routes are mapped using automated routing technology to ensure the most efficient movement of trucks throughout the neighborhoods.

In 2007 and 2008, DPW re-balanced its trash and recycling collection routes citywide using the same automated routing technology. This was the first major overhaul of these routes in more than 50 years. The new routes reflect population shifts across neighborhoods and equalize collection crews’ workloads.

All sanitation crews use a comprehensive system known as DPW Works to manage crew deployment, time reporting, truck monitoring, and other operations.

Fleet Management uses an interactive system to manage all maintenance performed on the District’s vehicles.