SPRING CLEANUP: CITY WILL PICK UP ALMOST ANYTHING AT CURB NEXT WEEK

Cape Girardeau residents will haul their trash to the streets next week.

It is spring cleanup time, and city workers will be picking up additional trash placed on the curb for its annual citywide cleanup campaign.

Mini-mountains of junk not collected during normal trash pickup will be picked up next week during the annual Spring Cleanup program conducted by the city Public Works solid-waste division.

Discarded televisions, broken furniture and appliances -- including refrigerators -- yard waste and general junk will be collected on residents' regularly scheduled trash pickup day.

During the week, city workers will pick up all refuse placed at the curb on regularly scheduled trash pickup days.

"This is a big project," said Pam Sander, solid-waste coordinator. "It takes a lot of manpower. The entire Public Works Department lends a helping hand."

Requirements for the special pickups are similar to those of the regular refuse collection, without restrictions on amounts to be picked up.

Trash is limited to two bags for the regular pickup. Next week there is no limit.

Last year the city collected 637.44 tons of refuse, 110.71 tons of compostable material and 50.03 tons of large appliances. During the past few years the total has been more than 600 tons of refuse.

There are some other requirements.

Grass, leaves and yard or garden waste must be bagged and separated from other refuse to be picked up by a separate vehicle, said Sander. Brush and limbs must be bundled in four-foot lengths and not exceed 75 pounds.

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

Appliances must be on the curb and will be collected by a separate vehicle.

"Doors must be removed from all appliances for safety," said Sanders.

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

During the week, additional equipment will be operating.

It is important that all refuse be at the curb by 6 a.m. on normal collection days.

The city discourages overzealous rummagers who roam the city during the week. Actually, the junk collectors risk violating a city ordinance, said Sander.

Litter and nuisance is against city ordinances, Sander said. "If you've been in the city during that time you know what happens: The problem we have is when they get into and throw it around, causing litter and nuisance problems. We do discourage it," she said.

The special cleanup is only available to residential trash collection customers.

For additional information call the solid-waste division at 334-9151.