In numbers compiled by the city’s Public Works and Utilities Department, it is noted that during April 20-24, city workers collected approximately 58 tons of green waste, five tons of tires, more than 68 tons of trash and debris and in excess of eight tons of metal.
Leading up to, and throughout the annual cleanup weeks — the city holds one in the spring and one in the fall — residents are urged to set aside items for collection not generally accepted in residential trash. Putting them by the curb on their regular trash pickup day can assure they do not continue dealing with something that may just be a dust-catching eyesore.
This year, many Clinton citizens took advantage of the opportunity — and the numbers show it.
All totaled, there was more than 139 tons of trash picked up during the week.
Items able to be collected included furniture, household appliances, tires and tree limbs. There are a maximum of four tires able to be collected per home, and tree limbs can be no longer than 5 feet in length and 6 inches in diameter. City workers collected 334 tires and 17 loads of limbs and loose leaves (see box for complete rundown).
The city cannot collect items that are not able to be processed by the Sampson County Landfill, including auto parts, car and truck batteries, oil-based paints, motor oils, gasoline, herbicides and pesticides and demolished homes and sheds.
There were 70 tons of trash collected during last year’s Spring Clean Up Week. There were 89 tons of trash collected in the 2007 Spring Clean Up Week last year. In 2006 and 2005, there were 119 tons of trash and 185 tons picked up, respectively.
The cost of the additional seasonal cleaning by the city is often offset by the sale of metal.
This year, there was 16,660 pounds of scrap metal, or 8.33 tons, collected and sold to Sampson Salvage for $499.80. Although the amount of metal collected by the city increased by three tons over last year’s amount — in spring 2008, the city picked up 4.92 tons — the amount it sold for was less.
There was $639.60 in revenue generated to put toward the cost of Spring Clean Up Week in 2008. However, those amounts are compared to the booming weight of 14 tons of scrap metal collected and sold in spring 2007, resulting in $424.40 in revenue.
Chris Berendt can be reached at 910-592-8137, ext. 121, or by email at sicrime@myclintonnc.com.
First, I'd like to ask the parents of the boys baseball team at Union Middle School if they noticed the blue tarp over the dugout. If you did,I'd like to tell you it's there because of you. You, the Al Bundy's of Sampson County. All you dad's living vicariously through your son's sports need to stop. That tarp was put there to stop you sideline, arm chair coaches from barking and whining directions to your kid. Union Middle School hired Eddie Bass to coach the boys baseball team, not you washed up losers from yester year. Look, you guys had your chance to be the sports hero about twenty years ago and you didn't make it. So get over it. I applaud you Coach Bass with your decision to put up your tarp. That's courage. Now, to the mothers of these boys who play sports. Stop running up to the dugout with Gatorade and bottled water when ever the temperature hits sixty degrees outside. These kids are 12 to 13 years old, not toddlers. STOP IT! I hate to break it to you, the mothers, but these boys have been weened off your breast milk for years now. Quit trying to turn back the clock. How do you expect these boys to grow up to be men when you're constantly babying them? Parents, go these games to see your kids play, stop being bunch of Al Bundys!!!