Tons of trash: Fargo's Cleanup Week a success, despite challenges

FARGO — There was a lot of trash on Fargo curbs last month.

Scott Olson, solid waste utility director, gave an update on May’s Cleanup Week to members of the city’s Sustainability and Resiliency Committee on Tuesday, June 10.

Sam Weber / WDAY News

Fargo residents threw away 1,443 tons of items during the weeks of May 5 -9 and May 12-16, Olson said, and recycled 35 tons of tires and 131 tons of metal.

This annual event allows residents to place unwanted items out on their curb for city crews to collect. That includes items such as mattresses, refrigerators and brush.

Chris Flynn / The Forum

Frequently, people use the event as a community-wide “freecycle” and travel about town looking through curb items for things they want to reuse or scrap.

This event isn’t without its challenges, Olson said.

Some households pile up their disposable items in giant, messy masses, despite the city asking for neatly sorted piles so workers can easily move things.

“If it seems excessive, then it probably is,” Olson said.

Other people put items out too early, he said, which can lead to water-logged items, items scattered about or piles that are generally unsanitary.

“This requires a lot of additional resources during an already hectic time,” Olson said.

Piles should be separated by item type and contained within boxes or bags for easy lifting, he said.

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If sorted correctly, staff don’t have to sort through other people’s waste, which could contain hazardous materials, to find items that can be recycled rather than thrown away, he said. Because of the event’s heavy workload, he said, many usable and recyclable items get thrown away and end up in the city landfill.

Residents are encouraged to consider donating items in good condition to local thrift stores rather than put them out on the curb, he said.

Sometimes people put items out that aren’t compatible with the rules, he said.

While it’s OK to put out that spare two-by-four piece of lumber, Olson said, crews are not going to haul away a mountain of construction debris from a deck removal or basement remodel for free.

People who violate the spirit of Cleanup Week can receive bills in the mail later, he said, along with photos of the offending pile.

Readers looking for more information about Cleanup Week can visit the city’s website .

Reporter working the night shift 👻. I cover Fargo city government, Cass County government and underserved populations in the area.