It took city of Hays employees six days to collect 380 tons of “junk” during last month’s annual alley cleanup.

According to Solid Waste Superintendent Marvin Honas, 39 employees on five crews worked 2,184 hours starting October 14.

They picked up 760,000 pounds of trash, debris and tree limbs not normally collected using a variety of trucks, tractors and trailers.

Honas says the amount of metal goods was down substantially from previous years.

“We also only collected 20 bicycles which people put out to be refurbished and then we donate the bikes to local kids, ” says Honas.

“Our employees saw several people taking the bikes and putting them in the back of their trucks.  We’re pretty sure they’re iron collectors and sell the bikes as scrap iron.

“I hope people realize why those bicycles are out there, and that we recycle them.”

The alley cleanup program is free for residential refuse customers.