Each year, the city of Grand Junction helps residents make their lawns and homes look more beautiful by hauling away tons of trash, kicked to the curb for Spring Clean-Up.

Crews will be out hauling away curbside piles starting Monday for residents north of North Avenue. Other city residents will have their piles picked up beginning May 12.

BY THE NUMBERS

12: Percentage of a year’s total city garbage is picked up in the two-week span during Spring Clean-Up.

50: Approximate combined number of city employees and private truck drivers needed to complete Spring Clean-Up.

3,000: Tons of garbage the city hauls away during Spring Clean-Up.

$400,000: The cost of the program in 2007.

— Source: Darren Starr, city of Grand Junction solid waste and streets manager

TRENDY TRASH

Dead Christmas trees are all the rage. City officials said that depositing brittle evergreens four months after Christmas never goes out of style.

“You would be surprised how many Christmas trees we pick up,” said Bob Spaid, pick-up crew leader and 15-year veteran of Spring Clean-Up.

CLEAN-UP HISTORY

In a 1916 report from the commissioner of health and civic beauty to the Grand Junction City Council, there is this paragraph about the annual Spring Clean-Up: “city scavenger, with the assistance of eight extra teams during spring clean-up week, collected and disposed of 2,223 loads of trash, ashes, manure, etc. and 1,256 grease traps were cleaned.”

Grand Junction City Clerk Stephanie Tuin said the program may have started in the late 1900s, but an exact date or reason the clean-up started is not known.

TRASH 2 TREASURE

Folding ladder — Cut the two sides apart. Prime it. Paint it the color of your bedroom. Turn it into a shelf.

Leather chair — If it sits level, dust it off and reupholster the leather. Voila.

Wheelbarrow — Broken wheelbarrows make great flowerpots. Tip it on its side. The flowers will look like they are falling out of the wheelbarrow.

Feather duster — Used feather dusters make fabulous princess wands. Halloween costumes and theater props exist everywhere.

WAIT! THAT’S NOT TRASH

If your conscience says others could reuse items you’re discarding, it’s probably because they could.

— The Community Homeless Shelter, 2853 North Ave., takes used twin mattresses, blankets and winter clothes. The shelter’s thrift store, 2905 F Road, takes other reusable items.

— Habitat for Humanity of Mesa County, 1104 Pitkin Ave., also accepts donations for resale to benefit its organization. If the item is big (i.e. cabinets, furniture) Habitat for Humanity can come pick it up. Set up an appointment for pickup by calling 263-0858 (http://hfhmesa.org).

Use good judgment. If you don’t think the items could be resold or reused, don’t make someone else pay to throw it away.

On the Web: Homeless shelter, www.homewardboundgj.org/home.cfm; Mesa County habitat, http://hfhmesa.org.

QUICK Q&A

Q: Can I throw away that one small can of paint?

A: No. You can’t throw away sealed containers of any liquid — even water. You also can’t throw away batteries, tires, appliances with Freon, concrete, asphalt or tree limbs longer than 10 feet. If you put out a prohibited item, the city will tag it and leave it.

Q: The city trucks came by, but my things weren’t out yet. Will they come back?

A: No. All items to be thrown away must be out by 7 a.m. on the Monday of your pick-up week. Pick-up starts Monday for houses north of North Avenue and May 12 for everyone else in the city limits, including Redlands and Orchard Mesa city areas.

Q: Where should I put items for Spring Clean-Up?

A: In the street gutters in front of your house. Some streets will have alley pickup because there is no on-street parking. Visit www.gjcity.org to find out which streets have alley pickup.

Q: Should I throw my household garbage in with everything else?

A: No. Trash removal of household items remains the same. Do not throw household items in with Spring Clean-Up items.

Q: I want to throw dead leaves away, but not the can they are in. What do I do?

A: Any storage receptacles containing Spring Clean-Up items also will be thrown away. If you don’t want it tossed, don’t put it on the curb.

THE OTHER STUFF

Tires can be dropped off from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17 at the city of Grand Junction’s utility and street systems offices, 2549 River Road.

Motor oil, automotive parts, several hazardous liquids, obsolete electronics and refrigerated appliances prohibited from Spring Clean-Up can be recycled. Information on where to recycle those items can be found at www.gjcity.org. The Web site also has more information about Spring Clean-up facts and figures, as well as lists of acceptable items, prohibited items and how to donate items to charity.

Cardboard, magazines, plastic and other materials can be turned in for recycling at the city’s recycling bins from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 2553 River Road.