Mark Calendar for Spring Cleanup Days at dump

Despite the recent cold weather, both the calendar and the daffodils say that spring is on its way!

That means it’s time to prepare for that time-honored tradition of spring cleaning!

For many of us in Grays Harbor, we will once again be encouraged in this endeavor by a free visit to the LeMay Transfer Station.

We thought we’d tell you what those days are so you can put the appropriate ones on your calendar and began to design your plan of attack against the extra, outcast, and ruined things you need to take action on.

Spring Cleaning isn’t often at the top of most people’s “fun” list, however a good spring clean of your house, garage and environs can leave you more ready to tackle your projects and more free to pursue your hobbies later in the spring and summer. Plus it just feels good to attack the clutter!

With that said, take a look at these dates!

DATES FOR ABERDEEN

The City of Aberdeen is once again issuing vouchers for those who live within city limits. If you are an Aberdonian, you should be receiving a green postcard during the last week of March. This voucher is your ticket to a trip to the LeMay Landfill anytime from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 1-31.

Just because you have the whole month of April to choose from, we suggest you don’t succumb to procrastination. Instead, plan now when your personal D-day (Dump Day) will be. Sometimes it takes a weekend or two to gather up everything that you want to get rid of!

TAHOLAH AND QUEETS

This year beginning on March 10, the residents of Taholah and Queets can take their junk to two containers by the fish house and two by the store at Queets.

OTHERS IN THE WORKS

The cities of McCleary and Westport are also planning on some sort of Spring Cleanup Days and we will get you those dates as soon as we have them.

Also, Hoquiam just decided at their last council meeting to schedule a Spring Cleanup this year too. It will be sometime after Aberdeen’s, likely near the end of May or beginning of June. Details are pending and we’ll let you know when we know.

THE GREAT SORT

Cleaning up and clearing out junk is all about making decisions and devoting a little time to carrying them out.

It’s a job most of us put off, but these free dump days can be just the nudge to get us moving. (And even if you are not living in one of the areas offering a free day at the dump, note that the fee for dumping at the LeMay transfer station is $96.73 per ton. That translates to $10.02 for the minimum fee for up to 200 pounds.

In other words, for the cost of a couple fancy coffees or a lunch out, you can get rid of a lot of clutter, lighten your emotional load and make your neighbors happy all at once.

So, once you determine what you plan to keep, then divide the other stuff into four piles – A Recycling Pile, a Hazardous Waste pile, a Give Away pile and, of course, a Throw Away Pile.

RECYCLE GLASS AND PAPER

Recycle everything you can to save your Clean-up voucher for the unusable stuff. (And you’ll also be saving precious landfill space!) Your clean, dry newspapers, magazines, cardboard, aluminum cans and recyclable glass are all heavy and should be placed in recycling area bins at the Transfer Station. Also you can bring your clean motor oil here to be recycled.

All of those items are recycled with no charge.

HAZARDOUS WASTE FACILITY

Not everything that you don’t want is safe to put in the landfill.

Batteries can be recycled at a salvage yard for cash or taken to the Hazardous Waste area at the LeMay Landfill along with cleaning supplies, old paint, solvents and pesticides for free.

This part of the facility is open each Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on the first Saturday of the month. (You may want to plan ahead and make one trip instead of two, stopping first at the Hazardous Waste area before going across the scales.)

Getting rid of most of the hazardous waste items is free. The Hazardous Waste Facility also accepts propane tanks for a $5 fee. However, if the shutoff is removed they can be recycled for scrap at no cost.

The limit for paint is 15 gallons per household per visit. (If an old can of paint is all dried up. It can be treated as garbage and thrown away.)

THE GIVE AWAY PILE

This pile is usually the fun one. Take a good look at what you don’t need, but is too good to give away. Once friends and family have been considered, make sure you give your usable second-hand things to Habitat for Humanity, Salvation Army, The Goodwill, The Union Gospel Mission or other local charities.

They convert good used stuff into cash which returns to the community in the form of new affordable homes and helping folks with dire needs, while employing folks in the process. You will feel real good about sharing your too-long-saved stuff with these organizations.

(Each place has a slightly different emphasis and needs, you may want to call first to see if they can use what you have to give.)

E-CYCLE IS A GREAT OPTION

Computer monitors, screens and laptops or television sets can be recycled at the Salvation Army and The Goodwill. These charity organizations turn your old electronics into cash and return it to the community when people need help.

Otherwise, you can get rid of electronic stuff for free at the Hazardous Waste Facility, too. (However, this service of E-Cycling is available only from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Tuesdays.) They will assist in unloading your car.

Another option is the TekEaZe computer repair store on Simpson Ave. in downtown Aberdeen. Last we checked they take “absolutely everything that has had electricity flow through it from toasters to microwaves to computers.” The store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

THE THROW AWAY PILE

Many things are accepted at the dump on your voucher, but a few things either aren’t appropriate for the landfill or have a charge.

So once you’ve determined what you want to get rid of make sure that things such as car hulks, paints, thinners, raw garbage, pesticides, car batteries, propane tanks, demolition debris, hazardous waste and large tires aren’t included among the items destined for the landfill on your voucher day.

However, as we said earlier, many of those items are suitable for the Hazardous Waste area. And, other items – such as tires and rims and certain appliances – can be dumped for a specific fee.

The folks at LeMay welcome your questions. They can be reached at 533-1251.

MARK CALENDAR, STAY TUNED

Sometime in the next few weeks we plan to give you more details in this column. In the meantime, start planning your attack!

Dave Murnen and Pat Beaty are construction specialists at NeighborWorks® of Grays Harbor County, where Murnen is the executive director. This is a non-profit organization committed to creating safe and affordable housing for all residents of Grays Harbor County.

Do you have questions about home repair, renting, remodeling or becoming a homeowner? Call us at 533-7828, write us or visit us at 710 E. Market St. in Aberdeen