The Littleton Summer Cleanup Program, which begins May 23, has
shifted its focus to recycling in recent years.
The free service has provided Littleton residents with waste
disposal for nearly three decades. In the past five years, city
administrators have centered their efforts on recycling.
“We try to recycle as much of the stuff as we can,” said city
spokeswoman Kelli Narde. “We get a lot of used, old refrigerators
and freezers that have Freon in them.”
The change in direction has even resulted in a name change, as the
annual event is now known as the Littleton Summer Cleanup and
Recycling Program.
The service runs through early August. City workers collect bundled
branches, unwanted furniture, tires, unused appliances, old
electronics and more. An emphasis is placed on large items that
might otherwise cost money to be removed, Littleton Code Specialist
Rebecca Thompson said.
“We want to be sure people are aware that we do that,” Thompson
said.
Items the city won’t pick up include hazardous materials, normal
trash, useable items fit for donation and loose branches. The
program doesn’t serve households outside of the incorporated
Littleton city limits.
City workers made nearly 900 collections in 2010. That total
included 38,200 pounds of recycled metal worth more than $1,500.
June tends to be the program’s busiest month, with 303 pickups
completed in 2009 and 379 in 2010.
The service exists to encourage residents to clear out their yards,
basements, garages and storage areas.
“The main goal and purpose of the program is to clean up those
yards and keep Littleton looking great,” Thompson said.
City workers can’t pick up items from apartment buildings or other
multi-family units. The program mostly targets single-family
residences and some town homes, Thompson said. The service runs
Monday through Friday, with Fridays typically set aside for
assisting elderly or disabled residents.
Because there’s only one truck, program organizers try to
coordinate pickups based on efficiency. Two crew members typically
travel from location to location while a third answers phones and
plans routes from the program’s headquarters.
“We try to organize our pickups to save fuel and time,” Thompson
said.
Thompson encourages interested residents to call well in advance of
their desired pickup date, as the work crew’s calendar fills up
fast. The phone number to schedule a collection is
303-795-3744.