For many residents of Dowagiac, the city’s annual Spring Clean-up Week has become as an anticipated event of the season as the blossoming of flowers and the melting of the snow.

Taking place this year during the week of April 21, waste maintenance crews hired by the city will spend the week collecting unwanted materials that residents place curbside by their homes. This year’s collection will run through April 25.

“Crews will hit pretty much every street in town, picking up materials and taking them back with them to waste management facilities,” said Sue Watson, administrative assistant with the City of Dowagiac.

Watson has helped
organize the cleanup since the early 90s, she said. On average, crews end up  collecting around 60 tons of waste every year, with years having amounts as high as 70 tons, she said.

“Our residents look forward to it every year,” Watson said. “We get calls in January asking “when is Spring Clean-Up?”

Around 3,000 residents leave waste for crews every year, Watson said, disposing of unwanted appliances, furniture, carpeting and other household items cleared out during spring cleaning.

“It’s pretty interesting to see what people put out there,” Watson said. “You name it, they put it out there: Children’s bikes, lawnmowers, pretty much anything and everything.”

The week also draws the attention of local pickers, who often find useable products among the piles to sell, Watson said.

This year, the cleanup will be handled by Waste Management, based out of Battle Creek. In addition, a number of other local vendors will be available to remove certain types of waste that Waste Management is unable to dispose of, for a fee.

All materials must be placed on curbs prior to Monday morning in order to have crews pick them up. The city has encountered problems in the past with residents wanting to have waste disposed after placing their materials past the deadline.

“We work pretty well with contractors, and most residents know what we expect,” Watson said. “We haven’t had too many issues in the past but that’s one area where we do.”

The city also requests that citizens don’t place any debris on their lawns prior to Saturday, April 19. People who do so may be subject to penalties, per the city’s blight ordinance.

The following restrictions apply to all disposed materials:

 

1. Refuse must be neatly placed curbside in an orderly fashion.

2. No refrigerators, freezers, or air conditioners will be accepted; unless

certification sticker is placed on item indicating that the freon has been removed.

3. No household garbage will be accepted.

4. No individual item over 5’ long, 3’ wide, or 3’ high, weighing over 100 lbs will

be accepted.

5. No automotive/marine batteries will be accepted.

6. No tires or rims will be accepted.

7. No materials that are prohibited from disposal in TYPE II landfills (paints, solvents, oils, etc.) will be accepted. (Note: Paint cans that are open and contain only DRY paint will be accepted.)

8. No propane cylinders will be accepted.

9. All construction / demolition material must be less than one cubic yard in total volume for curbside pickup.

10. No lawnmowers or small engines will be accepted unless the gasoline has been completely drained.

11. Total curbside volume shall not exceed 3 cubic yards.

12. Windows, glass, and mirrors must be less than 3’ x 4’ in size.

For additional information, contact the Department of Public Services office at 782-8200 or DPS_Service_Request@dowagiac.org.