Starting the year out right includes a clean home, and the City of Grand Junction takes spring cleaning to another level.
Written By: Madeline Nowak, Sustainability Editor
Photos By: Ziggy Ross, Caleb Upson
For decades, the City of Grand Junction has hosted an Annual Spring Cleanup, a chance for residents to clear out their yards and garages at no cost. There are a few rules – nothing longer than six feet and no pesticides or chemicals, to name a few – but for the most part, trash just needs to be placed in the gutter, just off the sidewalk, by the designated pick up time, and cleaning crews will come by and pick it up. In just one cleanup, crews can dispose of more than 2,000 tons of trash.
A poll on the Grand Junction Message Board on Facebook revealed that residents are overwhelmingly in support of this program, with 84% answering ‘Love It’ and only 2% responding ‘Hate It.’ The rest were either neutral – 9% for ‘Somewhere In Between’- or unaware – 5% for ‘Didn’t Know It Existed.’
Ironically, one of the biggest issues people had with the Annual Spring Cleanup was that it didn’t include enough people.
“I wish it was available to everyone who has a grand junction address,” Facebook user Jennifer Eskelsen Jurgens commented.
The time of year at which the program happens was also contentious.
“I hate that it happens during what should be the prettiest time of the year,” Facebook user Teresa Notwhite commented. “All the spring bulbs are poppin. The trees are leafing out and blossoms are in full show. And our pretty little city is covered in piles of garbage.”
A number of people agreed, or brought up the windiness of Grand Junction’s springtime, and mentioned how the trash frequently ends up far from the original houses.
Other people mentioned the people who hunt through the piles, looking to sell or keep useful items. Scrappers, shoppers, pickers, whatever they’re called, people seemed to love them.
“It’s wonderful. Get rid of stuff, share that stuff with pickers. All around a plus!” Facebook user Betty G Fulton commented.
Despite any changes residents might like to see made to the program, community support was firmly in favor of the Spring Cleanup. Simply walking around town during the weeks it was running made it easy to see how many Grand Junction residents take advantage of the program each year.
For more information on the Annual Spring Cleanup, go to https://www.gjcity.org/255/Spring-Clean-up
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