Cortez will host its second cleanup week of the year Oct. 21-25 on scheduled trash days. The first cleanup week and bulk trash runs took place in May.
The curbside pickup is for city residents only, and there is no drop-off day, according to Cortez Refuse/Recycling Superintendent Colby Earley.
Piles should be stacked and sorted by material and bundled together. Yard waste must be bagged, and branches should be cut no longer than 4 feet and bundled together.
Items should be grouped by material – metals with metals and yard waste with yard waste. All items should be at least 5 feet away from trash and recycle containers, vehicles or other objects that will interfere with the pickup process.
Piles should also be no larger than 10 feet long, 5 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
Piles of loose debris will not be picked up.
Cleanup items are to be placed on the curb and not in the alley. Crews will not backtrack for piles. Items can be placed out no earlier than the Saturday before each collection week and no later than 6 a.m. Monday of the collection week.
Items that can be picked up are mattresses and upholstered furniture (back-charged at current landfill rate and current load fee); microwaves and dishwashers; appliances like washers, dryers, stoves and water heaters; toilets; boxed, sealed and labeled glass; yard waste and trimmings less than 4 feet long and hand-bundled at less than 50 pounds; bagged and tied grass, leaves and weeds; and boxed and labeled cacti, roses and thorny bushes.
To dispose of tires, contact Big-O Tires, 4-States or Walmart. Electronics may be taken to the Montezuma County Landfill. Items that will not be picked up also include contractor waste, air conditioners, batteries, oil, appliances with Freon, chemicals, paint, Asbestos, freezers, refrigerators, barrels with liquid, hazardous waste and unbagged yard waste.
Trash bins at apartments and trailer parks will be emptied every day of cleanup week. Bulk materials are collected next to dumpsters on Monday of the cleanup week, the city asks that they not block dumpsters.
For information, call (970) 565-7320. Elderly or disabled citizens may call this number for assistance.
