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Countdown to cleanup

City-wide drop-off event begins Friday afternoon

The countdown to cleanup is on. Webster City will once again be holding their city-wide clean-up and drop-off event this Friday and Saturday. Residents are being encouraged by city officials to take advantage of the free event to dispose of items that cannot be placed in the regular garbage or recycling.

“We’re scheduled and on task to hold this year’s clean-up,” said City Manager Daniel Ortiz-Hernandez.

Webster City residents can drop off items on Friday, June 9 from noon to 4 p.m. and Saturday, June 10 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Webster City Middle School parking lot.

“I encourage everybody to bring out their excess around the house and bring it down,” said Webster City Mayor John Hawkins.

“Obviously the goal is to make our community better and help people who have some items that have gathered on their properties and wish to dispose of them,” said Ortiz-Hernandez. “We’re trying to really be very diligent about trying to clean up the community.”

Last year the city collected five container loads of trash and three container loads of scrap metal. The event was shut down an hour early due to the high volume of items the city received. This year, Hawkins hopes to be more prepared and stay open through the whole event.

Hawkins is also encouraging residents to help out their neighbors and those who are unable to bring items to the event.

There will be assistance for picking up items at the homes of those who are elderly or handicapped.

“We have some assistance available for those who are handicapped, elderly or those who don’t have a way to get their items to the school,” said Hawkins. “Give city hall a call and they’ll organize someone to come and do it for you.”

“If people have some items and are unable or don’t have the means to dispose of them, I encourage people to contact the city as soon as possible Friday morning,” said Ortiz-Hernandez.

Those who are in need of assistance should call city hall at (515) 832-9151 to discuss their individual pick-up needs.

The Webster City High School wrestling team will be assisting on Saturday with clean up for a free will donation. The money collected will go towards a wrestling camp volunteers will be attending.

“We’ve got the wrestlers helping on Saturday. If they could give a free will donation to help them with their summer camp, that would be good,” said Hawkins.

Volunteers are still needed and welcome to help out on Friday.

“I encourage everyone to come out and get into the clean-up mode and help their neighbors as much as they can,” Hawkins said. “If everybody works together, we’ll get the clean-up going a lot easier.”

“We encourage all Webster City businesses and residents to hopefully do their part to help our community be a better place,” said Ortiz-Hernandez.

Examples of items accepted include: Household furniture, grills/lawn furniture, scrap metal items, bicycles, appliances, mattresses/box springs, carpet pieces, and miscellaneous household items.

Items that will not be accepted include: Propane tanks/cylinders, tires, large amounts of building materials, paint, hazardous materials, computers/laptops, televisions, batteries, concrete, bricks, or rocks, roofing materials and yard waste.

The city asks that no normal household garbage be dropped off and that residents continue to use the normal garbage day pickup for that.

The City of Webster City reserves the right to refuse acceptance of any item or items. The city will continue to enforce Nuisance Abatement laws for non-compliant properties.

“This is an opportunity for people who perhaps may have been served or received a nuisance letter or have dealt with nuisance neighbors, to either bring their items out or encourage their neighbors to bring their items out,” said Ortiz-Hernandez.

With temperatures expected to be in the high 80’s and low 90’s for the weekend, volunteers and residents are encouraged to be mindful of the heat when cleaning up and dropping off items.

“Be mindful of the temperature,” said Ortiz-Hernandez. “Don’t get over-exhausted or find yourself in a situation where you need to call for medical attention.

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