Oh, the signs of spring.

        A broken tombstone, broken lawnmowers and thousands of old tires.

        Spring cleanup campaigns begin this weekend in Northern Kentucky for people who need to get rid of stuff — whatever it might be.

        Kenton and Campbell County officials have designated locations where residents can “spring clean” their communities by dropping off garbage, damaged or unused appliances and waste tires. Groups in Boone County and Covington also are taking part in state and national cleanup campaigns the last weekend in April.

        “You name it, and we see it,” said Mary Shinkle, Boone County's solid-waste coordinator. “At one of our sweeps last year, we got a broken tombstone, a bubble gum machine and a motorcycle. But what we really see a lot of is tires and plain old trash.”

        State legislators recently extended Kentucky's popular waste tire amnesty program, including collection of a waste tire fee, through July 31, 2006.

        Although no collection dates have been set for residents to bring in unlimited numbers of waste tires this year, solid-waste programs in Boone, Kenton and Campbell counties are allowing residents to drop off four tires per vehicle during their spring cleanups.

        “When we first started doing cleanups about six years ago, we thought it would be like the law of diminishing returns,” said Reno Deaton, Campbell County's solid-waste coordinator.

        “We figured we'd get fewer and fewer tires and other (trash) as time went on; but instead, the opposite has happened. Each year, people are bringing in more stuff.”

        During Kentucky's annual Commonwealth Cleanup Week last spring, Campbell County took in 230 tons of trash and debris, 109 tons of scrap metal, 5,001 tires, 103 car batteries and 37 propane tanks, Mr. Deaton said.

        Boone County collected 300 appliances, 3,600 tires and 18 tons of trash, while Kenton County filled 22 Dumpsters with trash, said Kerry Holt, a spokeswoman for the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet.

        Campbell County residents can drop off trash and unwanted items April 5-7 at three locations.

        Kenton County's Spring Cleanup will be April 6-7. The cleanup has been shortened from four days to two because most residents were dropping off unwanted items on Saturday, said Gary Hensley, the Kenton County solid waste coordinator.

        “My guys keep an eye on everything that comes in here,” Mr. Hensley said. “They'll say, "Oh, I can fix that lawnmower.' We have one guy who got three TVs through cleanups, fixed them up and donated them to churches.”

        Kenton County Public Works and Recreation also is sponsoring its annual Doe Run Lake Cleanup for families and other volunteers on April 27.

        As part of the Great American Cleanup, Covington residents can pick up litter at a number of sites on April 27. The event is co-sponsored by the Covington Neighborhood Collaborative, the Friends of Covington, the Covington Business Council, the Covington Community Center and the city of Covington.

        Boone County will observe spring cleanup week, April 29-May 5. It will take part in the Great American Cleanup on April 27, as will the cities of Florence, Union and Walton.

        Boone County Jail inmates will join the effort Monday by picking up trash along roadways. Inmates collected 60 loads of trash along 45 miles of roads last year.

Related stories:
Northern Kentucky spring cleanups
       

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