Emerson-Garfield Neighborhood will be holding its annual neighborhood-wide Spring Cleanup event on Saturday, April 27 between 9am and 12:30pm. It’s going to be a multi-part garbage harvest that will help you get rid of all different kinds of household waste.

Just like in years past, there will be a roll-off container event at Faith Bible Church [map]. This is the same as we have done in past years, but there are some alterations and additions for 2013.

Here’s what you’ll find there:

• “Clean green” and general refuse containers. This includes untainted green waste (e.g., leaves, grass cuttings) and everyday trash. But this year there’s going to be something new: an express lane for cars with small loads, and a separate lane for trucks/trailers with large loads. Both lanes will allow you to drop off either type of waste.
• The Salvation Army will be on hand to collect reusable goods and e-cycle items (that is, recyclable electronics such digital cameras and printers).
• Metal recycling is new this year. Under this category falls microwaves, stoves, small lawn mowers — which is to say, any 99% metal items with a few tiny non-metal tidbits (but no items with freon or liquids).
• Also new is household hazardous waste collection. This will allow you to dispose of many common items in your home or garage (e.g., disinfectants, toilet cleaners, motor oil, antifreeze, fertilizers/pesticides, car batteries, paints, solvents, Fluorescent lights/ bulbs). This will be staffed and managed by a Solid Waste Management employee.

This event needs volunteers! Please sign up now by e-mailing Karl Boldt and requesting either a loading or non-loading task. Loading is exactly what it sounds like: taking stuff and putting it into the respective containers. Non-loading would be responsibilities like traffic control, ID check, or conducting the annual “wants and needs” survey. Volunteers will need to be onsite from 8am to 1pm.

Please note that the Spring Cleanup event is free, and anyone who lives or works (sorry, residents only) in Emerson-Garfield is welcome to drop off garbage.

Also note that there will be a second (equally free) event during the second week of June. And you won’t have to travel further than your front lawn. It will be for curbside pickup of large furniture items such as couches, recliners, mattresses, and similar non-appliance items. These items will need to be registered for pickup beforehand (by May 31) and placed by the curb in front of your house the day before pickup. A city truck with crew will come to registered houses and pick up the registered items.

A dedicated volunteer is needed for this program. This person must be willing to receive phone calls between May 13 and June 14, answer questions, register people, and create and deliver a register list for the city by May 3. Once again, get in touch with Karl Boldt to put your name forward and help out the neighborhood.