Danville Public Works Department and Ikea/Republic Services crews teamed to collect and dispose of 276 tons of mixed debris during the fourth annual “Make Danville Shine” campaign, a month-long effort held in May. That amount was a 42 percent increase from the prior year campaign.
In addition, Public Works crews collected and disposed of 1,359 tons of solid waste – an increase of 8.4 percent from May of 2015.
“A clean and well-maintained community is important in promoting the city as a whole, and from its inception four years ago, the ‘Make Danville Shine’ campaign has served as an outreach to citizens,” City Manager Ken Larking said Thursday. “This year, the surge in numbers is evidence that citizens care about their community and want to get involved. We are extremely gratified by the high level of activity in this year’s campaign. To all citizens who took part, we say ‘thank you.’
“I also want to thank the City employees who worked many, many hours on this year’s campaign. Our employees care deeply about this community. They strive to build and maintain it for everyone’s benefit. Thank you for a job well done.”
The “Make Danville Shine” campaign encourages every citizen to focus on maintenance, upkeep and beautification of their property and to assist neighbors who may not be able to do so due to age or disability.
In support of the cleanup campaign, the Public Works Department each year allows residents to place oversized piles of separated yard waste and household debris at curbside for collection at no charge. Normally, bucket truck collections of oversized piles carry a charge of $120 for mixed debris and $75 for yard waste.
In May, Public Works crews collected 184 tons from 682-bucket truck pickups. Of the 682 total piles of debris collected, 263 were oversized piles collected at no charge. A year ago, the department collected 747 piles of debris, but only 199 were oversized.
During the campaign, the department also allows residents to reserve its 18 cubic-yard debris trailers at no charge. Normally, the department charges $120 to rent a trailer for mixed debris and $75 to rent a trailer for yard waste.
In May, residents reserved 43 debris trailers at no charge. They filled the trailers with 48 tons of mixed debris. A year ago, the department collected 53 tons from the 46 trailers that were reserved.
Ikea and Republic Services participated for the second consecutive year, collecting and disposing of at no charge 44 tons from the 35 debris trailers it provided. In their first year, the two companies provided 21 trailers and collected 32 tons.
The department in May also waived the cost of tire disposal for up to four tires per household. Crews collected 1,315 tires, 22 piles of rock, brick and other heavy debris, and 13 appliances.
In total, the department received 1,430 service requests during the month of May.
Public Works returned to enforcement of the standard solid waste regulations that were waived during the Make Danville Shine campaign. Residential properties are allowed up to four large bulk debris items per week. All small debris and household waste/garbage generated by a household needs to be in an approved container, which is a trash can that has an attached lid making it watertight, has a dump bar so it is able to be hydraulically dumped, and has wheels for mobility.
In declaring May as “Make Danville Shine Month,” Mayor Sherman Saunders pointed out that it is the intangible things like a clean community that make a difference in promoting business growth and the community as a whole.
The Community Development Department leads the annual campaign. This year, the department kicked off the month by providing expertise in home improvement and lawn care at an expo held on May 7 at the Community Market. Nearly 20 vendors in the fields of landscaping, painting, roofing, siding, masonry, electrical, plumbing and pest control attended the expo, which this year again was held in conjunction with the opening of the Farmers Market.
The department also held contests during the month for best landscaping project, best exterior renovation, best youth project and best City employee project. Awards were presented during a ceremony held earlier this month.
The annual cleanup campaign involves simple steps that every resident can do around their house, such as clean the gutters, paint the exterior, landscape the yard and clear their property of weeds, vines and overgrowth.