A lot of spring cleaning is getting accomplished thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With people staying home, it’s the perfect opportunity to tackle those to-do lists, whether it’s cleaning out a closet, organizing the garage or getting rid of the stuff in your basement or attic that doesn’t bring you joy.
Chad Dixon, director of the Seymour Department of Public Works, said he expects the results of people being cooped up to make for a busy Make Seymour Shine Week.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryFrom April 13 to 17, DPW will accept up to one pickup load of trash from Seymour residents free of charge, including items such as appliances, scrap metal, furniture, remodeling debris, tires and even old vehicles.
E-waste, including electronics, televisions, computers and monitors, will be picked up, but there is a $20 charge per item.
People do not need to call DPW to participate in Make Seymour Shine Week. All they need to do is set out their items on their regular trash collection day.
To make it easier and more efficient for DPW to pick it up, trash, metal and yard waste should be separated. Also, landscaping, wood debris, drywall and remodeling debris should be separated from yard waste, such as limbs, grass, leaves and garden refuse.
All trash and yard waste should be bagged or in containers.
The only item that requires a special pickup is vehicles. The city will remove junk cars and trucks. The owner must have the title and call the department ahead of time at 812-524-1100 to schedule a pickup.
During Make Seymour Shine Week, DPW also will collect up to four passenger vehicle tires per household. The tires may not be from semis, tractors or other agricultural equipment. Tires should be placed out with regular trash.
Anyone needing to get rid of old paint cans or other household hazardous wastes, including pesticides, old fuels and cleaners, can drop them off at the DPW facility during regular business hours from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Paints should be dried using cat litter, sawdust or an oil dry product.
The annual Make Seymour Shine Week is the city’s way of helping residents clean up their homes and properties to improve the overall look of the city.
A lot of people are getting a head start, Dixon said.
“We are already seeing the trash tonnage go up,” he said.
From March 23 to 27, the amount of trash DPW collected increased by 20 tons from the previous week, he said.
That’s because the department now is picking up two large items per week per household as part of regular trash collection.
Last year, DPW collected a total of 304.5 tons of trash and 493 tires during Make Seymour Shine Week.
Due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus, there will be less hands-on work this year for employees than in the past, Dixon said.
“We will be picking up a majority of the trash with the clam trucks in an effort to prevent employee exposure to COVID-19,” he said.
He’s also in talks with the county highway department about using one of its clam trucks to help with the extra work, he said.
The clam trucks are unable to pick up piles of trash in alleys or around low-hanging utility lines and trees.
“Any of these obstacles may prevent them from picking up a pile,” Dixon said. “We also ask that trash isn’t placed next to objects such as fences or cars to avoid any property damage.”
During Make Seymour Shine Week, it’s all hands on deck, he said.
“Employees put other tasks on hold to focus on trash pickup,” he said.
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Make Seymour Shine Week is April 13 through 17.
Procedures for free pickup:
-Residential, curbside
-No phone calls required, except for cars. Call 524-1100 for car pickup. Titles are required.
-Set trash out on your regular trash day; no alley pickups.
-Free pickup of all items, up to one pickup load.
-Separate trash, metal and yard waste. If trash is in a 30-gallon or smaller container, it will be thrown away.
-Landscaping, wood debris, drywall and remodeling debris are to be separated from yard waste.
-Latex paint must be dried with cat litter, sawdust or oil dry.
-Four used passenger tires per household. No semi or agricultural tires.
Items accepted for pickup:
-Appliances, including those with Freon, and all other scrap metal
-Furniture items
-Yard waste, including limbs, grass and leaves, and garden waste
Household hazardous waste, including pesticides, old fuels, cleaners and oil-based paint, may be brought to the Department of Public Works, 865 F Ave. East, during regular hours from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Asbestos items are not accepted.
Electronics, televisions, computers and monitors will be picked up for a $20 per item charge.
Information: 812-524-1100
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