Local & Region
For some here, weekends are good starts for out-of-town excursions or visiting Imperial Valley’s diverse outdoor recreation venues but for many industrious residents the day is perfect for spring clean-up.
Falling on the first dog day of summer the third of four installments of the Community CleanUp Events took place at CR&R Environmental Services on Saturday with trucks lining the 500 block of East Main Street back to Dogwood Avenue. There were more than 70 loads of unburdened households of waste within the first hour.
“It’s the biggest turnout in two years,” said Francisco Ochoa, operations manager of CR&R. “Saturdays are a big thing because people are too busy in the week. We get tires and a lot of furniture. It keeps the trash out of the alleys of El Centro.”
Ordinarily closed on Saturdays, CR&R opens one more Saturday for El Centro on Oct. 7, noted Linda Laveaga, operations coordinator. For Calipatria they open on Sept. 23, Heber, Oct. 21, Westmorland, Nov. 4 and Holtville, Nov. 11. Trash disposal is free but visitors must show proof of residency with a water bill (includes trash) or if a renter, an IID bill and a valid ID. Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to noon at CR&R, 599 East Main St. on Monday through Friday hours are from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Acceptable items include: general household waste, furniture, home appliances, green waste (small branches no more than 5 feet, TVs, computers and other electronics, tires and rims, nine maximum per customer. Items not accepted are: hazardous waste (oil, flammables), liquid waste (Ag or commercial), special waste (biological, chemical or physical causing harm), automotive parts, construction, concrete or home remodeling materials.
Additional requirement is, all trucks must have trash loads covered by a tarp or net. “We do dismiss customers who bring unacceptable loads, we’re not a landfill,” said Laveaga. “People bringing banned items can, rent a temporary bin and then CR&R picks it up at your residence on the 14th day. Or, you can hall the material to the dump yourself to the Republic Services Allied Imperial Landfill at 104 E. Robinson Road, city of Imperial.”
Also, there is no loose trash allowed. Aside from appliances, electronics or furniture, all waste must be in a trash bag or cardboard box. “We can also pick up four items at once at your residence on your service day (scheduled trash day),” said Laveaga. “We’ll do swaps for your broken barrels, but it must be damaged, no trades for new ones.”
Orlando Johnson, a property owner drove a rental truck to CR&R. “I tool this chance to clean out some of my rental properties,” he said. “We got some dead trees and broken appliances.”
Kimberly Toten, also liked Saturday hours. “I’m just unloading some furniture and mattresses,” she said. “I like Saturdays because it’s just too busy during the week. I live right around the corner.”