By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
They say one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Sometimes, it’s just junk, and a lot of it.
“When we started the Alley Cleanup, we collected 1.5 million pounds of stuff,” recalled Marvin Honas, Hays Solid Waste Superintendent. “The past three years, the collection has averaged between 700,000 to 800,000 pounds.”
The city of Hays wants to keep junk out of the alleys and is again offering the free Annual Alley Cleanup to residential refuse customers starting Mon., Oct. 24.
Unwanted items not normally collected by the city should be put out before Oct. 24. To make sure no treasures are accidentally picked up with the junk, “label what you want to keep, or better yet, put it in your back yard or somewhere until alley cleanup is over with,” Honas advised.
City workers will make one sweep through town to collect the discard piles, starting with curbside customers. “That way it won’t sit out at the curb very long because it normally takes us seven or eight days to complete the cleanup,” he explained. “It usually just takes a day, a day and a half to finish curbside.” Once the curbside collection is done, crews will move into the alleys.
There isn’t much the city won’t take–just trees, tires and hazardous waste. Trees and tires should be taken to the Ellis Co. Landfill while hazardous waste, such as batteries and paint, should go to the nearby Household Hazardous Waste Facility. There is no charge to Ellis County residents to dispose of trees or hazardous waste. Both locations, 1515 W. 55th St., are open Monday-Saturday, 8 a.m.-6 p.m. More information is available by calling the Ellis Co. Landfill at (785) 628-9460 or the Ellis Co. HHW Facility at (785) 628-9449.
Residents are asked to sort their discards into four distinct piles. “Makes it handier. From day to day, we don’t always have the same number of people working the cleanup. It depends on absenteeism and the job requirements, ” Honas said.
SEPARATE UNWANTED ITEMS INTO FOUR PILES:
- TREE LIMBS AND BRUSH--No longer than 12 feet in length or 6 inches in diameter
- CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION DEBRIS–Lumber, drywall, bricks, sinks, wires. etc. Pull or bend over nails and place small quantities of concrete, bricks and plaster in containers.
- WHITE GOODS/METALS--Guttering, siding, washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, metal swing sets, etc.
- MUNICIPAL WASTE–All other items such as furniture, carpet, TVs, computers, bagged garden/yard waste, etc.
The regular trash and recycle collection schedule will not be altered during the alley cleanup.
According to Honas, the annual alley cleanup and the city’s free compost site get the most positive feedback from Hays residents. “Please help us keep our alleys clean. It’s a good way to get rid of stuff not normally collected, and it’s free,” he added.
More information is available by calling the Hays Solid Waste Division at (785)-628-7350.