Warm temperatures are in the air, and that means it's time to start clearing out your junk for Darien's annual spring cleanup. However, unlike previous years when residents would line the streets with their large trash items to be picked up, this year's cleanup will be by appointment only.
"We will only pick up at the address where we make the appointment," said Public Works Director Bob Steeger. The Board of Selectmen voted unanimously to adopt the new pickup policy after unsightly amounts of garbage was left along residential roads in previous years. Darienites will be allowed one pickup per calendar year, and only items that are too big to be moved by a car will be picked up.
"I think it's really worth a try. I'm sure we'll have to fine-tune it," said First Selectman Dave Campbell, who has long been in favor of abandoning the spring cleanup. "One of the problems with the previous spring cleanup is that it just got out of hand. People from other towns are coming and dropping stuff here."
There was some discussion about how people living on private roads can get rid of large garbage items because they not included in the spring cleanup. When asked whether it would be a hassle to include them, Steeger said, "It wouldn't be a hassle, it would be illegal. We are not authorized to go onto private roads. By charter, we're restricted to public roads in the town."
Selectman David Bayne, who lives on a private road, said residents on his street make their move when trucks come along to pick up large items. "What people tend to do is they take it to either end of Bump Along [Road] and leave it there on their neighbors' property. I'm not sure how the neighbors on the other end feel about that. My guess is they're not too happy."
To schedule an appointment, residents should visit the Citizens Service Request page on the town website or call the Public Works at 203-656-7374.
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