Omaha’s annual Spring Clean Up will take place on five different Saturdays beginning April 22nd.
According to Chris Stratman, Executive Director of Keep Omaha Beautiful, this 35-year-old event is a joint effort between Keep Omaha Beautiful, the City of Omaha and approximately 100 Omaha neighborhood associations.
Stratman says it is a great time to dispose of large items such as old couches, mattresses, lumber, broken bikes, swing sets, and so on. He says rocks, concrete and household hazardous waste are not accepted, although the latter can be taken to Under The Sink, which will offer extended Saturday hours during Spring Clean Up.
Stratman says Spring Clean Up serves an important environmental role for Omaha as well.
“When people have lots of these large, bulky old items, you know, sitting in garages, sitting in basements, and even sometimes sitting in yards, they really can be havens for rodents. And, you know, they also can become a fire hazard, truly. And also, they are havens for mosquitoes as well. So, it’s important that people get those items out and that they are appropriately discarded or recycled. In addition, too, this really helps with preventing illegal dumping.”
Stratman says many neighborhood organizations will have recycling and reclaiming groups present the day of the clean-up for reusable items, and he points out that Omaha residents are welcome to use any of the neighborhood sites.
For more information the website is Wasteline.org/cleanup, or the number of the Spring Clean Up hotline is 402-444-4636.