Borough ready for community cleanups

MAT-SU -- Although some communities have already held their community cleanups, at least 16 others will soon be hitting the streets with big blue bags in an attempt to rid their neighborhoods of trash.

The Mat-Su Borough has teamed up with 20 communities to hold annual spring cleanups.

"We're working with any community council that wants to work with us," said code compliance officer Jane Dale.

Dale said code compliance staff sent out applications to community councils in November. Community councils and groups interested in participating have obtained free garbage bags from the borough -- and some have secured a dumpster for the cleanup event. For groups who don't need a dumpster, the borough provides a coupon for free disposal of the trash collected. These services are available for any group interested in doing a cleanup, Dale said, not just community councils. Nonprofit groups, boy or girl scouts, subdivisions or other organizations are welcome to participate. And although the filing deadline for participation in the spring cleanup event was March 30, Dale said the office can still help people who want to hold a cleanup.

"We're trying to help anybody that calls us," Dale said.

This yearly event has grown in momentum over the past few years, Dale said, and changes are being made to make the process run more smoothly.

"One of the things that we're going to do differently this year," Dale said, "is on the free [dump] day, transfer sites will be accepting refrigerators."

Junk cars are not generally accepted at large collection sites during the spring event, Dale said the borough has contracted to remove some cars as needed. Applications are available for the removal of junk cars. The application deadline is June 1, and those interested in receiving an application can contact code compliance at 745-9861. As of Friday, Dale said, applications have been received to remove 92 vehicles.

Another new addition to the cleanup effort may involve a little creative thought and financing. Dale said the community of Skwentna recently said they would like to be included in cleanup activities, but that could mean a river barge would have to be hired to haul the garbage away. Although a barge service has not yet been selected, Dale said estimates now range from $1,000 to $1,500.

Although the overall goal is to beautify local communities, participants and event organizers say there are several benefits to getting involved in cleaning up your community.

Michael Janecek, president of Meadow Lakes Community Council, said the community cleanup was one of the first activities he and his wife participated in -- and it was an excellent introduction to their neighbors and the community as a whole.

"That's one of the most important community self-esteem functions around," Janecek said.

Although the cleanup is growing in the Meadow Lakes area along with the community, Janecek said they have run into one small glitch. Cleanups, he said, are for community trash collection, not household trash.

Brit Lively, who heads up the Butte community cleanup, said her community has worked hard over the past to clean up trash each year. Unfortunately, the majority of that trash comes from out-of-area dumpers.

"A lot of people come out from Anchorage and they go in the woods and dump [their trash]," Lively said. "You have to see it to believe it."

Just recently, she said, someone dumped 28 bags of diapers in the area -- and that's not the worst she has seen. Everything from household or farm waste to torched car carcasses have been recovered from the borough land in the Butte area.

"We clean it one year, but the next year, it's all back," Lively said. "This is … really beyond description."

Although it's depressing to haul out the piles and piles of trash left behind from other people, Lively said the cleanup has added a more uplifting, community-based aspect.

"Our cleanup is not just trails," Lively said. "What we also do is a neighbor-to-neighbor cleanup."

Several people in the community, she said, simply get overwhelmed with trash or junk vehicles and appliances on their property. The neighbor-to-neighbor cleanup helps people otherwise unable to rid their property of trash.

"We provide them with a means of cleaning up," Lively said. "So it's a good thing."

Last weekend was the third year the neighbor-to-neighbor event has taken place, and it's had good results.

"It's really neat, how nobody's forcing anybody to do anything," Lively said -- and it's a good community-booster. "You meet a lot of people, and the nice thing is, you meet a lot of like-minded people."

Community cleanup dates set

Sixteen community cleanups are set to take place over the next two months. If you are interested in beautifying your community, contact the following people or contact the Mat-Su Borough Code Compliance office at 745-9861.

May 18 -- City of Houston. Contact the city at 892-6869.

May 18 -- Creeks Cleanup. Contact Joe at 745-8223.

May 18 -- Alpine/Sutton. Contact Barb at 745-3395.

May 18 -- Glacier View. Contact Rex at 745-8886.

May 18 -- Lazy Mountain. Contact Chris at 746-7023.

May 18 -- Soapstone/Buffalo Mine. Contact Sandy at 745-4514.

May 25 -- Trapper Creek. Contact Tammy at 733-3201.

May 25 -- "Y" Community Council. Contact Geri at 733-2599.

May 26 -- Talkeetna. Contact Troy at 733-2490.

All of June -- Lake Louise.

June 1 -- Big Lake. Bag pick-up volunteers needed. Contact Tom Logan at 892-7072.

June 1 -- Tanaina. Contact Vera at 376-6788.

June 1 -- Willow Area Community Council. Contact Jane at 495- 6675.

June 1 -- Williwaw Community. Contact Jennifer at 357-8038.

June 22 -- Chickaloon. Contact Corri at 745-7818.

Free dump days set

In concurrence with community cleanups, the Mat-Su Borough offers free dump days at both the central landfill and area transfer stations around the borough. For more information about any of the dump days, contact code compliance at 745-9861.

May 18 -- Central Landfill

June 1 -- Big Lake

June 8 -- Butte

June 9 -- Sunshine

June 15 -- Talkeetna

June 22 -- Willow

June 29 -- Sutton

June 29 -- Long Rifle

July 6 -- Trapper Creek