Nothing marks spring in Durango like warm temperatures, a swelling river, budding leaves, an occasional snow flurry – and Spring Cleanup.
The citywide cleanup, that jump-starts spring cleaning efforts around town, kicks off Monday and runs through May 5th. The return on investment is high and should not be missed. A mere $1.50 ($18 per year), paid monthly through your utility bill, supports two annual cleanups: this one in April and another in October.
April’s cleanup, the larger of the two, provides residents the opportunity to discard specific household items and yard waste. Materials accepted include furniture, large appliances, scrap metal, drywall, fencing, carpeting, tiles, open dried paint cans, tree trimmings (less than eight feet in length and eight inches in diameter) and bagged or boxed loose brush and leaves. The fall cleanup only takes yard waste.
For those in the know, the piles starting to appear in neighborhoods are familiar. For others, wondering about “all that junk,” rest easy. Take inspiration from your neighbor’s motivation and take advantage of the best deal in town.
Start cleaning out that shed, and remember one person’s trash is another’s treasure. “Dumpster diving” takes on a new meaning during Spring Cleanup.
There is an informal understanding that discarded items are up for grabs. An old chair or couch may find a new home, be re-purposed or re-used before the city truck shows up. KDUR’s “Furniture as Art Auction” artists have been known to scout piles for materials for next year’s artistic creations.
The cleanup is organized by neighborhood and assigned a specific collection week. Be kind to your neighbors and follow the schedule, and be considerate of the rules. Lists of both are available at Durangogov.org/cleanup.
As we think about cleaning up our homes and yards and lightening our loads for summer, make use of this great city benefit. It is worth a month of less-than-tidy neighborhoods, and will make you forget about increases in other parts of your bill.
You will feel good about rolling up your sleeves to cleanup your home and doing your part to make our city beautiful for spring.
