Spring cleanup

Through Friday, extra trash will be collected for free as a service of the city. During other times of the year, an extra charge -- determined by the size of the item -- is applied for the same service. According to Pam Sander, solid waste coordinator, the added overtime, extra employee wages and disposal costs incurred by the spring cleanup waste removal was approximately $30,000 last year, and that does not include the extra fuel that was used.

Here are the city's guidelines on spring cleanup pickup:

All refuse must be placed at the curb by 6 a.m. on the day of your normal trash collection.

It must meet the weight requirement of no more than 75 pounds per item or container.

Only residential customers of Cape Girardeau may participate.

Grass, leaves and yard or garden waste must be bagged and kept separate from other refuse; it will be collected by a separate vehicle.

Brush and limbs must be bundled in 4-foot lengths, not to exceed 75 pounds, and must be separate from other refuse; it will be collected by a separate vehicle.

Appliances must be at the curb. These will be collected by a separate vehicle. Doors must be removed for safety.

No concrete, logs or railroad ties will be collected. Swing sets must be broken down.

No tires, batteries, motor oil, automobile parts, pesticides, paint or hazardous materials will be picked up because of state law restrictions.

A reasonable amount of refuse will be collected, typically what it would take two men to load in 10 minutes.

Refuse must be placed at the curb to prevent blowing trash or spillage onto the street.