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A: The flat wire “bristles” come from street sweeper brushes used to clean gutters. The spring-type steel resists bending as the brushes rotate to loosen dirt and debris.

Not all street sweeper brushes are the flat wire type. Some are made with PVC coated galvanized cable. Others have bristles made of polypropylene or other materials.

Brushes come in various styles, from wafer brushes to tube and sweeper brooms. Modern mechanical sweepers use brushes to loosen debris and vacuum it into a storage bin for later disposal.

Many are equipped with water tanks and sprayers that loosen debris and reduce dust. The debris is swept into a main collection area then deposited into the bin.