Spring means cleanup in Mat-Su

MAT-SU -- Ditches along the borough's roads and highways are littered with six months of detritus, not to mention windblown grit and fallen tree limbs from winter storms. But over the next two months, borough residents are being asked to pitch in and restore the area to summer splendor.

It's spring cleanup time in the Mat-Su Borough, and 22 cities, community councils, subdivisions and homeowner associations have already signed up to remove trash and litter from their areas. Jane Dale, who coordinates the cleanups on behalf of the Mat-Su Borough, said there's plenty of room for more people to get involved.

"We want to not only encourage cleanups through community council groups, but we want to encourage the one- to two-person groups," Dale said. "All of the cleanups, not only the big ones, make a difference in the area's appearance."

Borough cleanups are designated to take place within public rights of way and on public land -- not for the cleanup of private property. The popularity of the cleanup events has been increasing, Dale said, and it's paying off. Last year, more than 200 tons of garbage were brought in by people involved in cleanups -- that's 50 tons more than is brought in to the landfill and transfer sites around the borough in a single day.

Those involved in the cleanup effort will be given an authorization letter that will provide them with access to the central landfill or to area transfer sites, and free disposal bags. Signs or safety vests for the event, if needed, are available through the Alaska Department of Transportation.

In conjunction with the cleanup period, the borough is offering special arrangements for the disposal of big items. Refrigerators and freezers, for example, are generally only accepted at the central landfill but, during the month of June, transfer sites in Trapper Creek, Talkeetna, Willow, Big Lake, Sutton and Butte will be taking them. Standard fees -- $20 for Freon removal and $5 to $10 for disposal -- will still apply. Fees are waived when the disposal is made on community council cleanup days.

A big electronics recycling effort will also take place in conjunction with the cleanup plans, on May 7 and 8. Coordinated through Greenstar, an Anchorage-based nonprofit organization, the electronics recycling effort gives businesses and area residents a chance to dispose of electronic items at a reduced cost. Typically, electronics are accepted at the landfill for a fee of 50 cents per pound, plus a $180 per-pallet fee. Although pallets are still required, businesses will be charged 30 cents per pound for recycling electronics, and residents and nonprofit groups with 501(c)3 status can deposit their electronics at no charge. For a list of electronics that can be recycled at the event, see sidebar.

"Anything that has a circuit board," Dale said, should be recycled at the event. "It contains a lot of lead and gold. We don't want, specifically, the lead, in the landfill."

Dale said the landfill stopped accepting electronic items six months ago and has since been asking people when they check in at gates of transfer sites or at the central landfill whether they have electronic equipment. The discount provided through the recycling event makes it easier for businesses to bring their old electronic items in, said Mollie Boyer, executive director of Valley Community for Recycling Solutions.

"What's nice is this is an opportunity so [electronics] aren't being thrown away," Boyer said. "All of the volunteer work we're getting is allowing us to offer a better disposal rate -- and an opportunity to do a lot at one time."

Because of the heavy traffic that will be associated with the electronics recycling event, Dale and Boyer said they're looking for volunteers to help with the event. Volunteers are asked to contact Boyer at 745-5544 or the Mat-Su Borough at 746-2823. People interested in taking part in other cleanup activities can contact the borough at the same number.

Contact Rindi White at rindi.white@frontiersman.com.