Fall cleanup scheduled

Siloam Springs' fall cleanup event has been scheduled for the week of Nov. 30, and it represents one of the best chances for residents to get rid of unwanted items. However, not every item will be covered by the event.

Fall cleanup is the second of two yearly events where city crews will pick up items from residents' curbsides. Acceptable items range from appliances to furniture and even up to four tires, with rims removed. City communication manager Holland Hayden said that the pickup was meant for bulky items that can't be picked up because they are too big for the weekly trash. "We take almost anything during cleanup week," she said.

Electronics are also eligible for free disposal, but will not be picked up curbside. Residents can take them to the transfer station at 1108 East Ashley for free disposal, but proof of residency will be required. Hayden said that the reason for this was because electronics are not accepted at the landfill any more. "We have to ship them to a facility that recycles them," she said.

To dispose of an environmentally hazardous item, such as a fluorescent light, alkaline battery or chemical, like paint, fertilizer or cleaners, take items to the transfer station. This service charges a $5 fee per load. The city has a sheet on their website that explains what constitutes one load. Hayden also noted that appliances that contain freon required special handling and needed to be taken to the transfer station as well.

Hayden said that the $5 fee and the rules on load size are determined by the Benton county Solid Waste District, not the city. "We follow their price structure and limits on quantities," she said. "The $5 cost is a minimum charge to help process the item collected."

Items to be collected can be set out as early as Saturday, Nov. 28, and must be out by 7 a.m. on Nov. 30 to ensure that it will be picked up. The city-wide collection will take more than one day, so not everyone's items will be picked up on Monday.

Normal trash and recycling collection will not be affected by the clean up, according to Hayden.

If you have any questions about whether an item will be accepted, you can call the transfer station at 479-524-8512.

This year's cleanup comes just over a month after the city switched to automated trash pickup. The change cost the city about $350,000 for the new bins and the side-load truck.

Hayden said that the city is very pleased with the automated collection so far. "It was started to be more efficient, save money and reduce the amount of trash going to the landfill," she said. "It also increases the safety of our staff."

General News on 11/22/2015