It’s time for spring cleaning – in a big, big way.

The Great American Cleanup, a countywide effort to clean uproadside litter, dispose of excessive garbage and discard large,bulky appliances and furniture, will begin Thursday, April 2, whenthe first industrial-sized trash bin is placed in District One. Thebin will remain in place for five days before being taken away,emptied and placed in another district.

Using the trash bins, provided by Molloy Disposal Services, arethe perfect way for county residents to rid themselves of oldcouches, refrigerators, mattresses and other worn-out goods andmaterials, said KLCB member Homer Richardson.

“Those old pieces of junk that just clutter up the yard – thisis a chance to get rid of it,” he said.

KLCB officials asked that dumpers place refrigerators, airconditioners, stoves and other large appliances on the ground nearthe dumpster, along with batteries and used tires. Furniture,mattresses, clothes, building materials and small appliances shouldbe thrown into the trash bin.

Paint, oil and household garbage should not be brought to thetrash bins.

Lincoln County Litter Control Coordinator Ronnie Durr said heand KLCB officials are actually hoping to see less trash in thebins for 2009, continuing a downward trend begun last year. Theyinterpret the trend as evidence of the cleanup campaign’ssuccess.

“We hope the tonnage rate will continue to decline,” he said.”That means we’ve consumed, we’ve collected most of the stuff.”

In 2007, Durr said the cleanup collected approximately 500 tonsof rubbish. That number fell to less than 200 in 2008.

However, Durr said last year’s numbers were affected by the highprice of scrap metal, which resulted in most white goods -appliances like refrigerators and stoves – being taken to recyclingcenters rather than discarded. Durr said there’s no way to tellwhat will be collected this year, or how much – white goods mayshow up at the bins en masse.

“You’re never going to get rid of all of it. That’s why we havethese things,” he said. “I’m hoping it will get down to where we’renot getting as much now out of these creeks and on the side of theroad.”

The Great American Cleanup isn’t all about large items, however.Richardson said the month-long program’s main goal is cleaning upneighborhoods, a task that must be accomplished by residentsgetting out on the roadsides and doing the dirty work.

“The cleanup encourages groups, neighborhoods, churches andcivic organizations to take on cleanup projects,” he said. “Itreally is an organized effort all across this country to get outand clean up the neighborhoods.”

Richardson said any of the groups he mentioned should gettogether to form a crew and clean up their local roads. Anyone whowishes to volunteer themselves to a group or help clean anothercommunity should contact Durr at the District Two barn at601-835-1987.

As for dumpster placement this year, the first trash bin will beplaced on Monticello Street, just east of County Farm Road. Afterthe opening weekend, the bin will next be deposited in District Twoon April 9 at the Brignall Precinct voting location at theintersection of Brignall and Howard roads.

District Three residents will have the chance to fill the binduring the cleanup’s third week when it is placed at theintersection of Highway 51 and Brister Street in Bogue Chitto onApril 16. The bin next travels to District Four on April 23 at theintersection of Jackson-Liberty Road and West Lincoln Drive.

District Five residents won’t see the bin until April 30, whenit is hauled to Jack Case’s store on California Road.

Richardson encouraged participation in the Great AmericanCleanup for one simply reason – it works.

“This is our 10th year of KLCB – a milestone of sorts – and wehave probably reduced our litter by about half,” he said.