The City of Manhattan held its annual Spring Cleanup April 1-5 to clean up outdoor brush, limbs, grass clippings and leaves.  

“The spring cleanup efforts are restricted to the Manhattan city limits,” Andrew Lawson, communications manager, said.

Five trash service companies participated in the Manhattan Spring Cleanup: Howie’s, Pick Pink, Average Joe’s, B & L Trash Service and Joe Mallon.

“These services manage to cover all of Manhattan within a five day timeframe, so it is a pretty impressive effort,” Lawson said. 

Lawson said the city is geographically divided and then pick-up dates are established. 

“Last year was the first year we have done it this way, so now they start in the southwest portion of the city and then work clockwise,” Lawson said. 

Lawson said the city has a strict time frame for when yard waste is accepted. 

“We tell people the only way we can guarantee stuff will be taken is if it is out the night before the day we establish for that area,” Lawson said.

The city has conducted Spring Cleanup for over 10 years and has received positive feedback. 

“This program offers such a convenient way to dispose of yard waste,” Emily Harrison, senior in architecture, said. “If not for this program, I’m not sure I would know where to dispose of yard materials, but this program makes it convenient for everyone, and it is one less thing I have to worry about.” 

Lawson said Spring Cleanup helps the community as a whole. 

“We know of some cases where you would have college students or Fort Riley soldiers who didn’t have the means or a vehicle to move their yard waste, and in these situations, some cities will come after the homeowner and write tickets,” Lawson said. “So if people can just get their yard waste to the curb, we can take it from there and make it easier on everyone.”