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The borough had been renting from the county and private companies since 2012 at a cost of roughly $30,000 annually.
The new $192,000 street sweeper — called RAVO — is smaller than the average street sweeper but packs a big punch, Carlstadt Borough Operations Manager Joe Crifasi said.
"It may be small but it is just as strong — if not stronger — than your full-sized sweepers when it comes to suction, broom strength and box capacity."
Along with sweeping streets, the RAVO will be able to cut the grass in between the curb and street, and vacuum leaves out of catch basins.
The sweeper is also cost effective. Crifasi says that regular street sweepers are more expensive and have a lot of loose parts that rust and come undone, whereas the RAVO is built to last.
"It's a parts-free machine. It is one self-contained mechanical unit. The biggest maintenance is lubing all of the fittings and hydraulic components."
"It's life expectancy is going to be a lot longer because of limited maintenance."
The machine could also start generating its own revenue stream. Crifasi said the town is looking into loaning it out to neighboring towns.
Edgewater, Oradell, and East Rutherford also own RAVO's.
The borough's new RAVO will be cleaning the streets of Carlstadt every Monday through Saturday.
"It is just a vacuum cleaner on wheels. Small and powerful," Crifasi said. "It is as effective and safe of a sweeper as you can find."
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