Auburn is looking to take some of the junk off its residents' hands this summer.

The city has started a new summer cleanup program that kicked off Saturday. The weekly program lasts through Aug. 23, aiming to clean up excess yard waste and construction material one neighborhood at a time.

“It's basically like a spring cleanup for things that have been hanging around,” Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said.

Public works crews are targeting a different neighborhood each Saturday, and there are 11 sections in all. The crews are on the street by 7 a.m., picking up the appropriate items left on the curb. Residents must have their items on the curb by 7 a.m. for pickup.

City employees are distributing flyers to residents a week before their neighborhoods are targeted, explaining the program and listing what types of items can and can't be included.

Palesh said city code enforcement officers will also look for code violations that can be solved through the cleanup. Examples of such violations could be excess waste stacked in the back of a house or a dead tree that needs to come down, he said.

“We're doing a massive approach,” said Palesh, who added that this is the first time the city has undertaken a cleanup such as this. “If it is successful, we will do this every year.”

This is not an extra trash day, so crews are not picking up normal items that go to the curb on garbage day. Bundled and tied brush, bagged leaves, grass clippings and construction material totaling no more than two cans at 50 pounds each are all allowed.

None of the following will be collected during the neighborhood cleanup: motor or cooking oil, items containing Freon, metal appliances or shelves, tires, paint cans, sewing sets, pool liners and debris with nails.

Public Works Superintendent Jerry DelFavero said this summer is a trial run for what could be an annual program. City officials will likely tweak the details as they learn what works and what does not, he said.

For instance, he said the cleanup will probably start earlier next year so residents can utilize the cleanup when they are first getting into their yards.

“We'll make adjustments,” DelFavero said. “Maybe we'll only need (to divide the city into) six or seven sections next year.”

Three packer trucks picked up between eight and 10 tons of debris Saturday within the first section, located west of North and South streets and between the Arterial and Genesee Street.

That is considered a light day, DelFavero said. But it allowed one of the trucks to pick up extra grass clippings in other sections.

“Hopefully, as we go through some of the other sections, more people will (participate),” he said.

DelFavero added that only two residences had items out that could not be taken.

Residents will have to participate throughout the summer if they want the city to look tidier, Palesh said.

“This depends on a lot of cooperation and people's commitment to having a cleaner city,” Palesh said.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net

City cleanup continues

Saturday's cleanup will include the following streets:

• Barber Street

• Chestnut Place

• Colburn Avenue

• Cross Street

• Derby Avenue

• Dewey Street

• Frazee Street

• Garden Street

• Guilfoil Avenue

• Mahaney Avenue

• Mundt Avenue

• Myrtle Avenue

• Seymour Street (89 to 310)

• Sheldon Avenue

• Spring Street

• State Street (1 to 173)

• Tech Park Boulevard

• Tehan Avenue

• VanAnden Street

• Venice Street

• Wadsworth Street

• Wall Street

• Washington Street (43 to 113)

• West Street

• Call 252-6441 for more information about Auburn's Neighborhood Cleanup Program. To view a map and schedule of cleanup dates by neighborhood, visit the city's Web site at http://ci.auburn.ny.us.

Pool opens June 21

The public pool at Casey Park is scheduled to open June 21, according to Public Works Superintendent Jerry DelFavero.

City employees recently filled the pool and are currently running the filters, he said Tuesday.