Starting May 13 the City of Estevan will be hosting Operation Clean Sweep, which will last through May 20.
Operation Clean Sweep is an initiative to give residents the opportunity to do some spring cleaning without the need to take the refuse to the landfill, as well as give the opportunity of a free landfill weekend.
It will be the fourth year of Operation Clean Sweep.
“It’s not only to clean and beautify our city and clean up from winter debris, but it also brings awareness to everybody in the city that the citizens and the City of Estevan itself want to clean our city. We want it tidy. And it’s just a week for everybody to get involved and pitch in. And if you see garbage, even if it’s not on your property or on your back lane, reach down, pick it up and let’s clean our city,” said Norm Mack, who is the manager of roads and drainage for the public works division.
Operation Clean Sweep helps to promote a cleaner and better city, and it comes in different stages.
Day one and two, City of Estevan crews will be clean sweeping the north, east, south and west entrances of the city and outlying areas, along with city properties including green spaces such as boulevards, medians, parks and natural areas, picking up visible garbage.
Previous years they received some help with the major city cleaning operations.
“The schools and some volunteer groups at the same time go through our entrances and our green spaces. Our city employees, we all pitch in that week,” said Mack.
On day three, crews will be working in the north part of the city, and on day four, the south. They will help citizens to clean sweep by picking up contained organic waste materials such as twigs, leaves and yard refuse in front driveways.
Branches must be bundled in three-foot lengths. Leaves and yard refuse must be bagged. It will be a curbside pick-up, so all items must be on the driveway before 8 a.m. on May 15 in northern parts of Estevan, and on May 16 in southern parts of the city. There will be no callbacks, so it’s up to people to get their waste out on time and on the right day.
“We want our city to look great not only for residents of Estevan but visitors that come to our city,” said Mack. “Commercial properties will not be included in the operation, but we encourage all commercial properties to participate in the clean sweep effort.”
For the last days of the operations, which are the Victoria Day long weekend, the city will offer free landfill service.
“We offer that to people that want to clean up their yards and clean out their garages and make for better living spaces,” said Mack.
Commercial waste will be accepted for regular tipping fees.
Freon appliances are not included. No hazardous waste material.
The landfill will be open 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. on Friday and Monday, and 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
And prior to the Operation Clean Sweep, the city will get some line and curb painting done, and a lot of esthetics around the city.
“Parks, on the other side, I’m sure they will be doing their part on the roadside parks, will be making sure that weeds are cut and grass should be growing and mowed by then. We just try to put an extra foot forward for that week to clean up our city,” Mack said.
