'Bulky Waste' pickup
The city will pick up "bulky waste," the term for solid waste that is normally difficult to dispose of, for an additional cost, at any time of the year.
Bulky waste items and the cost to dispose of them inlcude: refrigerator or freezer, $50; air conditioning units, $40; dehumidifiers, $35; washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers, furnaces and water heaters, $20; furniture, carpeting, toilets, sinks and microwaves $10 each or $20 per hour; swing sets, poles, $20 each; lumber, plasterboard, $20 per cubic yard, plus Green County landfill charge of $30 per ton.
To be picked up, the homeowner must fill out a form at City Hall or the street department office, explaining when it will be placed on the curb for collection. The bulky waste sticker must be on the item to pick it up.
MONROE - The Monroe Police Department is once again warning people that taking items left at the curb for Spring Cleanup Days can result in a hefty fine.
The city sponsors the annual Cleanup Days to allow city residents to place extra refuse on the terrace for city collection. Normally, residents are allowed to put one 30-gallon trash bag on the curb for weekly trash collection. Additional bags require a $2 sticker from the city, so Cleanup Days has become the time homeowners can rid their garages and basements of broken and unwanted items at no additional cost. The city does not charge to pick up recyclable paper, glass, plastic or metal.
Spring Cleanup Days will be the week of April 28 for residents of 13th Street and all streets to the north and May 5 for residents south of 13th Street.
But Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said it's important for people to remember that anything placed on the terrace for pickup belongs to the city. People taking items from the terrace are subject to a $501 citation.
While many people have argued that picking trash from the terrace prevents usable items from ending up the landfill, Kelley said there's several reasons the city enforces the ordinance against taking refuse from the terrace.
First, the city tries to recoup some of the expense of holding the annual Spring Cleanup Days by reclaiming some items as salvage. Once refuse is placed on the terrace, it becomes property of the city, so private individuals removing salvage are potentially taking money from the city's garbage collection coffers.
Secondly, people picking through trash often leave a big mess behind. This makes it more difficult for city workers to collect what's left behind.
"When it rains, it makes it even worse," Kelley said.
Finally, there are requirements for solid waste collection that many people aren't aware of, Kelley said. For instance, collecting refrigeration or air conditioning units requires an EPA license.
"It's more complicated than people think," he said.
Kelley said the city recommends people who are willing to have other individuals remove their items for free publish their contact information.
"It's their choice how they want to do that," he said.
People wanting to collect items can then contact the homeowner and take what they wish, and the homeowner would only place unwanted items on the terrace.
Kelley asked people to keep any private donations separate from Spring Cleanup Days.
"Just don't do it on Cleanup weekends, so there's no confusion," he said.
Freecycle is one way to find a taker for unwanted items. The national network matches people needing to dispose of items with people who would like the items. The network is broken into groups for cities or regions, such as the Green County group.
Items available can be just about anything from scrap yarn to used furniture to baby clothes to broken appliances that could be used for parts. People looking for something can also post a request at the site. Nothing can be posted for sale - only free items are allowed.
To access the local listings, go to www.freecycle.org and type in Green County, Wisconsin. It can also be accessed through groups.yahoo.com/group/greencountyfreecycle. You must log in to respond to postings.
Donating items to a thrift store can help provide funds for those in need.
The Monroe St. Vincent de Paul store accepts donations during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds from the sale of thrift items are used to help families in need.
There are a number of items St. Vincent's cannot accept. They are: pianos; windows and doors; waterbeds; Readers Digests and encyclopedias; dirty or ripped clothing; nonworking electronics; ceiling fans; broken items; ripped or stained furniture; wire hangers; vaporizers and humidifiers; gas appliances; outdated microwaves; colored (avocado, gold or brown) appliances; nonworking or rusty appliances; air conditioners or products containing freon; computers and computer parts; paint; chemicals or any hazardous materials; outdated car seats; outdated cribs; bean bag chairs; console TVs or stereos; exercise equipment; sinks, toilets and bathtubs; sleeper sofas; Christmas trees; and anything that is unsaleable.
Easter Seals Disability Services of Madison makes periodic pick-ups in Monroe. It accepts clothing of all types and sizes, shoes, bedding items, household goods, toys, small appliances and motor vehicles. Proceeds from thrift sales are used to provide programs and services to disabled children and adults.
To schedule a pick-up, visit www.eastersealswisconsin.com or call (877) 208-5109.
The city sponsors the annual Cleanup Days to allow city residents to place extra refuse on the terrace for city collection. Normally, residents are allowed to put one 30-gallon trash bag on the curb for weekly trash collection. Additional bags require a $2 sticker from the city, so Cleanup Days has become the time homeowners can rid their garages and basements of broken and unwanted items at no additional cost. The city does not charge to pick up recyclable paper, glass, plastic or metal.
Spring Cleanup Days will be the week of April 28 for residents of 13th Street and all streets to the north and May 5 for residents south of 13th Street.
But Monroe Police Chief Fred Kelley said it's important for people to remember that anything placed on the terrace for pickup belongs to the city. People taking items from the terrace are subject to a $501 citation.
While many people have argued that picking trash from the terrace prevents usable items from ending up the landfill, Kelley said there's several reasons the city enforces the ordinance against taking refuse from the terrace.
First, the city tries to recoup some of the expense of holding the annual Spring Cleanup Days by reclaiming some items as salvage. Once refuse is placed on the terrace, it becomes property of the city, so private individuals removing salvage are potentially taking money from the city's garbage collection coffers.
Secondly, people picking through trash often leave a big mess behind. This makes it more difficult for city workers to collect what's left behind.
"When it rains, it makes it even worse," Kelley said.
Finally, there are requirements for solid waste collection that many people aren't aware of, Kelley said. For instance, collecting refrigeration or air conditioning units requires an EPA license.
"It's more complicated than people think," he said.
Kelley said the city recommends people who are willing to have other individuals remove their items for free publish their contact information.
"It's their choice how they want to do that," he said.
People wanting to collect items can then contact the homeowner and take what they wish, and the homeowner would only place unwanted items on the terrace.
Kelley asked people to keep any private donations separate from Spring Cleanup Days.
"Just don't do it on Cleanup weekends, so there's no confusion," he said.
Freecycle is one way to find a taker for unwanted items. The national network matches people needing to dispose of items with people who would like the items. The network is broken into groups for cities or regions, such as the Green County group.
Items available can be just about anything from scrap yarn to used furniture to baby clothes to broken appliances that could be used for parts. People looking for something can also post a request at the site. Nothing can be posted for sale - only free items are allowed.
To access the local listings, go to www.freecycle.org and type in Green County, Wisconsin. It can also be accessed through groups.yahoo.com/group/greencountyfreecycle. You must log in to respond to postings.
Donating items to a thrift store can help provide funds for those in need.
The Monroe St. Vincent de Paul store accepts donations during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds from the sale of thrift items are used to help families in need.
There are a number of items St. Vincent's cannot accept. They are: pianos; windows and doors; waterbeds; Readers Digests and encyclopedias; dirty or ripped clothing; nonworking electronics; ceiling fans; broken items; ripped or stained furniture; wire hangers; vaporizers and humidifiers; gas appliances; outdated microwaves; colored (avocado, gold or brown) appliances; nonworking or rusty appliances; air conditioners or products containing freon; computers and computer parts; paint; chemicals or any hazardous materials; outdated car seats; outdated cribs; bean bag chairs; console TVs or stereos; exercise equipment; sinks, toilets and bathtubs; sleeper sofas; Christmas trees; and anything that is unsaleable.
Easter Seals Disability Services of Madison makes periodic pick-ups in Monroe. It accepts clothing of all types and sizes, shoes, bedding items, household goods, toys, small appliances and motor vehicles. Proceeds from thrift sales are used to provide programs and services to disabled children and adults.
To schedule a pick-up, visit www.eastersealswisconsin.com or call (877) 208-5109.