A huge success, year after year, as the junk continues to be found.

Thatís how the city of Forest Lake and especially its public works department looks at the annual Rid Litter Day program. And more of the same is expected this year.

On Saturday, May 7, the city will conduct its 15th annual Rid Litter Day program. The event will be staged 8-11 a.m. at Northland Mall.

The Rid Litter program began in 1989 in response to growing concerns over citizens disposing of tires, furniture, mattresses, carpet and more in ditches and along roadways in the Forest Lake. Many yards and garages were being used to store appliances, tires, yard waste and more.

ìThe success of Rid Litter Day is obvious,î said City Administrator Chip Robinson. ìBefore this program began the city was retrieving approximately 800 tires per year from ditches and roadways. That number has decreased dramatically to approximately 50 tires a year.î

Along with Rid Litter Day, the city continues to operate the Bixby Park Compost Site. The site provides a legal spot for the disposal of brush, leaves and grass clippings by Forest Lake residents.

In the early years, Rid Litter Day was a day-long event. Now the day has been condensed to a three-hour blitz at the spacious north end of the mall parking lot.

A number of stations will be in operation at Northland Mall. Cars and trucks easily can drive to each of the stations to dispose of different types of materials.

Costs told

There is a cost for taking park in Rid Litter Day.

Each carload of trash is charged a minimum of $5; a pickup load of trash is charged $25. Oversized loads of trash are charged $35 and up.

Items that can be taken to Rid Litter include: dehumidifiers, air-conditioners, major appliances (non-freon), tires and rims, overstuffed furniture, mattresses and box spring, carpet and propane tanks. Special charges are assigned to each item.

No household hazardous waste items will be accepted at the Forest Lake disposal day Saturday. Brush clippings should be taken to the Bixby Park Compost Site, not the Rid Litter site.

Non-residents of Forest Lake can take part in the disposal day at Northland Mall but will be charged double fees for the city program.

For more information, call the city of Forest Lake at 651-209-9727.

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Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
Fax 651-464-4605