In many towns and villages in Cayuga County, it's a rite of spring and fall. For a weekend or two in May or October, residents get the opportunity to toss items too large for the weekly pickup or trip to the transfer station.
Jason Rearick / The Citizen
Joe Michalski clears the back of his truck with one of many bicycles he is throwing away during trash pick-up day at the Montezuma Highway Department Friday morning.
Joe Michalski clears the back of his truck with one of many bicycles he is throwing away during trash pick-up day at the Montezuma Highway Department Friday morning.
In places like the town of Cato, the popularity - and cost - has taken off. Despite little population growth this decade, the spring and fall cleanup volume has essentially tripled in the same span.
“Back when spring cleanup started, we used to use three roll-off Dumpsters, now we're up to nine,” Cato Town Supervisor Charlie Ray said. “Not only has word of mouth spread, but I think people are bringing stuff that had built up over time.
“There were quite a few years there when the transfer station was closed,” he said.
The town of Cato went about 20 years between the closing of the municipal dump and opening of a transfer station in 2004.
The board considered charging $5 per load to ease the tax burden beginning with the May 19 cleanup. That decision was met with a public outcry and petition that led to a repeal at the town board's most recent meeting.
Though Ray would rather rising costs be handled by the users, he said the two cleanups have been an important service for town residents. More than 100 residents make several trips each spring and fall.
“It's a great asset to the townspeople,” Ray said. “It's well-needed.”
The philosophy behind cleanup days is to offer an incentive to get bulky trash into dumpsters and out of yards. Some towns forgo the cleanup in the interest of labor and cost.
“Right now the budget works out, by selling the bags and the permits, it pretty much pays for itself,” Conquest Town Supervisor Charles Knapp said, estimating significant increase in weight could easily add a few thousand dollars to expenses. “We've contemplated it, but it would be such a labor intensive endeavor.”
The Conquest transfer station is open Wednesdays and Saturdays and stays pretty busy, he said.
“I don't know if it would work in Conquest,” Knapp said of an official cleanup day. “To me, the people who want to keep their property picked up and looking nice do, and those who don't, won't.”
In the town of Fleming, the annual cleanup day coincides with Earth Day. Each year the town waives a $2 per bag fee for residents who haul in roadside trash as an incentive to clean up yards and shoulders. This year's cleanup was Saturday.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
“Back when spring cleanup started, we used to use three roll-off Dumpsters, now we're up to nine,” Cato Town Supervisor Charlie Ray said. “Not only has word of mouth spread, but I think people are bringing stuff that had built up over time.
“There were quite a few years there when the transfer station was closed,” he said.
The town of Cato went about 20 years between the closing of the municipal dump and opening of a transfer station in 2004.
The board considered charging $5 per load to ease the tax burden beginning with the May 19 cleanup. That decision was met with a public outcry and petition that led to a repeal at the town board's most recent meeting.
Though Ray would rather rising costs be handled by the users, he said the two cleanups have been an important service for town residents. More than 100 residents make several trips each spring and fall.
“It's a great asset to the townspeople,” Ray said. “It's well-needed.”
The philosophy behind cleanup days is to offer an incentive to get bulky trash into dumpsters and out of yards. Some towns forgo the cleanup in the interest of labor and cost.
“Right now the budget works out, by selling the bags and the permits, it pretty much pays for itself,” Conquest Town Supervisor Charles Knapp said, estimating significant increase in weight could easily add a few thousand dollars to expenses. “We've contemplated it, but it would be such a labor intensive endeavor.”
The Conquest transfer station is open Wednesdays and Saturdays and stays pretty busy, he said.
“I don't know if it would work in Conquest,” Knapp said of an official cleanup day. “To me, the people who want to keep their property picked up and looking nice do, and those who don't, won't.”
In the town of Fleming, the annual cleanup day coincides with Earth Day. Each year the town waives a $2 per bag fee for residents who haul in roadside trash as an incentive to clean up yards and shoulders. This year's cleanup was Saturday.
Staff writer Shane Liebler can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or shane.liebler@lee.net
Citizen
Hot Jobs
New! Off the Menu
The Citizens' Say
Post your comment - click hereThere are 1 comment(s)
oldandtired wrote on May 8, 2007 12:58 PM: