Mt. Pleasant discontinues Spring Cleanup event

MT. PLEASANT — The City of Mt. Pleasant announced Tuesday, March 4, that it will no longer offer its annual Spring Cleanup service, citing declining participation and financial concerns.

The decision follows a discussion by the Mt. Pleasant Sanitation Committee during its meeting on Thursday, Feb. 20, and marks the latest change in waste disposal services for the city.

Last year, Mt. Pleasant transitioned from city-run solid waste collection to contracted services with WEMIGA and Lance Refuse. The switch led to increased costs for many residents, though City Administrator Brent Schleisman noted the previous system was financially unsustainable for the city.

Spring Cleanup had been an alternative for residents to dispose of bulk waste items and last year the city encouraged residents to use their remaining garbage stickers from the previous system for the event. This year, however, the opportunity has been eliminated entirely.

According to Schleisman, the city spent over $19,000 to provide the service, yet only about 200 out of Mt. Pleasant’s 3,700 housing units participated — just 5% of residents.

“After careful consideration, we regret to inform you that we will no longer be holding our annual Spring Cleanup event,” the city said in a statement. “Over the past few years, we’ve seen a steady decline in participation, and after evaluating the needs of our community, we’ve made the decision to discontinue this event.”

To help residents manage bulk waste, the city encouraged residents to contact local haulers, listing the following services:

Local scrap collector Dwayne Woodson also offered assistance, posting in community discussions that he picks up metal items and has been doing so for over 30 years. “People of Mt. Pleasant, I am a metal scrapper! I pick up everything metal,” Woodson wrote, providing his contact information and noting that he charges $25 for TVs.

The city’s decision has been met with some frustration from residents, with some encouraging others to contact Sanitation Committee Chairman Matt Crull to express their concerns.

Among the issues raised are worries that residents may not clean up their properties before the annual Old Threshers Reunion, a major local event. Others expressed disappointment at losing the chance to find “treasures” from curbside disposals during cleanup. Additional concerns included the increased costs of renting dumpsters and the lack of transportation options for hauling large items to disposal sites.

For more information on waste disposal options, residents can visit the city’s website at www.cityofmountpleasantiowa.org.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com