It's trash time: Mat-Su community cleanup events begin now

What you need to know:

• Community cleanup events will take place across the Mat-Su, with Palmer and Wasilla holding “Cleanup Week” May 4-9 and Houston following May 11-16.
• Residents can pick up free trash bags, participate in local cleanup efforts and enter contests or prize drawings tied to the events.
• The effort aims to reduce roadside litter, with guidelines in place for proper disposal and restrictions on hazardous or household waste.

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The Valley is about to look a lot less trashy.

Community cleanups will be held throughout the Mat-Su in the coming weeks, with Palmer and Wasilla designating May 4-9 as “Cleanup Week,” complete with free trash bags, prizes for collecting trash, and community celebrations coinciding with the cleanup. Houston’s cleanup week is scheduled for May 11-16.

In Palmer, public dumpsters will be available at the Palmer Ice Rink from May 4-8 for yard waste disposal. On Saturday, starting at 9 a.m., kids can pick up yellow trash bags from the ice rink and return them for a chance to win a new bicycle courtesy of the Palmer Chamber of Commerce. There will be a community barbecue at 11:30 a.m., with the drawing for the bike at 11:45 a.m.

In Wasilla, bundles of free yellow bags from ALPAR, or Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, are available for pickup at Wasilla City Hall, the Menard Center, and the Wasilla Museum and Visitor Center through May 9.

Filled bags can be dropped off at Iditapark on Nelson Avenue on May 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ALPAR bags left on the curb within city limits will be collected by city public works officials by May 12.

The events are designed to bring the community together for a cause that is important to all, officials said.

“Bring out your family, friends or co-workers and help make our community a little cleaner and more beautiful,” reads a press release announcing Wasilla’s event.

Participants in the Wasilla cleanup can enter to win prizes by taking a photo of their efforts and either tagging #wasillaparks&recreation on Facebook or emailing a photo to recreation@cityofwasilla.gov with a name and phone number. Prizes will be awarded to one company and one family entry, with a winner selected May 15.

Because the cleanups are intended to spruce up roadside areas across town, people are discouraged from disposing of household waste at the event, according to a Wasilla release. Hazardous items such as automotive waste, chemicals, and tires are also not allowed. For a complete list of prohibited items, visit cityofwasilla.gov.

Participants are encouraged to wear personal protective gear, such as boots and gloves.

In Houston, cleanup week is split into sections, with dates focused on specific areas. The city has designated May 11-12 for highway cleaning, May 13-15 for sprucing up residential areas, and May 16, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., for a dedicated community cleanup event on Zero Lake Road. Check Houston’s Facebook page for updates.

Boroughwide, people wanting to host their own neighborhood cleanup events can receive a 40-yard dumpster from the borough by contacting the Community Cleanup and Recycling Program coordinator at 907-861-7605 or by emailing cleanup@matsugov.us.

--Matt Tunseth is a freelance writer from Southcentral Alaska. Write to him at matthew.tunseth@gmail.com.