Danville Public Works Department crews collected an extra disposal of 184 tons of mixed debris from residents during the second annual “Make Danville Shine” campaign, a month-long effort held in May.
The extra tonnage was generated by residents who arranged for the use of the department’s debris trailers or simply placed oversized piles of debris at their curbside for pickup by the city’s grapple “bucket” trucks.
In total, the department met 43 requests for use of the trailers for mixed debris or yard waste. It sent bucket trucks to collect 665 piles of mixed debris and yard waste, including 198 oversized piles of mixed debris and yard waste.
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 made available by appointment its 18 cubic-yard trailers at no charge. It also allowed oversized piles of separated yard waste and household debris to be placed at residential curbsides for collection at no charge.
Normally, the department charges $120 to rent a trailer for mixed debris and $75 to rent a trailer for yard waste. Bucket truck collections of oversized piles also carry a charge of $120 for mixed debris and $75 for yard waste.
The department in May also waived the cost of tire disposal for up to four tires per household, and it waived restrictions on construction and demolition debris for the month.
Crews collected 1,778 tires and 25 piles of rock, brick and other heavy debris.
These numbers are slightly less than a year ago when the city launched its first “Make Danville Shine” campaign. In 2013, the department collected an extra disposal of 187 tons of mixed debris and 2,049 tires.
Despite the drop, department officials encountered a busy month.
For this year’s “Make Danville Shine” campaign, the city invited all citizens to go online and take the “Make Danville Shine Pledge” to spend an hour, a day or a weekend to beautify their homes and neighborhoods.
The city also held a free expo at the Community Market to kick off the campaign. At the expo, citizens could learn home maintenance tips and meet with home improvement experts in the fields of landscaping, painting, roofing, siding, masonry, electrical, plumbing and pest control.
