Effort begins to clean up Valley trash

WASILLA — April seems to be the new May for 2016 spring-cleaning projects, with unofficial cleanup efforts already visible around the Valley.

But the larger-scale, official activities kick in starting tomorrow, as both the cities of Palmer and Wasilla join a host of community councils and other user groups that fan out to pick up a winter’s worth of trash.

Palmer

In Palmer, the city’s annual cleanup day starts Saturday. Trash bags will be available at the pavilion across from the visitor’s center beginning at 9 a.m. No household trash will be accepted — residents are encouraged to clean up in the public rights of way and other public spaces around town and return the bags to the roll-off Dumpster at the pavilion. Recycling stations also will be available.

The cleanup lasts until noon. A free lunch of hot dogs, snacks, cake and drinks begins at 11:30 a.m. According to the city, children who participate in the cleanup will be entered to win bicycles in a noon drawing.

Friday also marks the last day of Palmer’s yard waste composting program. From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., residents are encouraged to bring grass clippings, raked leaves, and small (less than a half inch in diameter) shrub and tree trimmings for composting.

For more information on the Palmer cleanup, call public works at 745-3400.

Wasilla

Wasilla’s cleanup week is slated for May 2-7. Residents can pick up free yellow trash bags at Wasilla City Hall, the public works department, the Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce, the Menard Sports Center and the Dorothy Page Museum.

Trash bags can be dropped off at the community Dumpster located in the Iditapark parking lot between 12-7 p.m. No household trash, appliances, hazardous waste or auto parts are allowed.

The city’s volunteer appreciation picnic will be held at 2 p.m. May 7 at the Iditapark red pavilion. Prizes will be awarded for kids and teens that participated in the cleanup.

For more information on the Wasilla cleanup, call recreational services at 357-9100.

Houston

Houston’s cleanup week is set for May 9-15. Bags and Dumpsters will be available at Houston City Hall and fire station 9-2. For more information, call 892-6869.

Boroughwide

While the Mat-Su borough doesn’t have official cleanup dates, it is a busy time of the year for the central landfill and other transfer stations around the Valley as trash is received from various community groups that fill out applications and receive bags.

Ivy Spencer, the borough’s community cleanup and recycling coordinator, said some 16,000 bags are handed out each year to volunteer groups, community organizations and individuals. She said last year the borough supported 51 groups and individuals in their organized cleanup events.

“The number of groups this year has already exceeded last year, and more are signing up every day,” she wrote in an email.

Spencer said the spring cleanup typically ends in late May to early June, but some volunteers continue to pick up litter from roadsides and public lands throughout the year.

“Bag turn-ins must be associated with a properly submitted and approved clean up form,” Spencer said, referring to the paperwork that is required when delivering to the landfill. Without that paperwork, a landfill charge could be incurred.

Spencer said between April and the end of June last year, the landfill and transfer stations received 23 tons, 157 cubic yards of material and 15 refrigerators

The program is designed solely for borough roadsides, right-of-ways and public lands. Trash removed from private property is prohibited, according to the borough.

For residential cleanup needs, Spencer said the annual landfill coupon is scheduled for distribution by the second week of May and must be used by Aug. 31.

Spencer said individuals and groups may join those already signed up or can sign up at any transfer station or the central landfill or on the borough website.

Other cleanup days of note include Crevasse Moraine Saturday, April 30, and the Jim Creek cleanup May 21.

The Crevasse Moraine event runs from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Volunteers are asked to meet at the trailhead pavilion at 9:45 a.m., where gloves, bags and trail assignments will be issued. An appreciation barbecue provided by the borough solid waste division will follow.

The Jim Creek cleanup is scheduled for 10 a.m. until 4 p.m., and will start at the Knik River Public Use Area. Participants are asked to sign in at the pavilion parking area, where bags will be handed out. Parking fees will be waived for the day.

For a complete list of borough groups and their cleanup days, visit www.frontiersman.com

New transfer station hours

The borough recently announced transfer station schedule changes, effective May 1. The new schedule follows:

• Sutton: 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday, Saturday and Sunday

• Willow: 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Friday through Tuesday

• Talkeetna: 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday

Wasilla earns clean-up award

The City of Wasilla has been awarded the Outstanding Youth Litter Patrol award by the Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling (ALPAR). The city received the honor for its efforts organizing the Youth Litter Patrol in the city since 1984. In 2015, five youth workers cleaned more than 160 miles of roadway in Wasilla, removing 438 bags of trash.

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com