Tires and refuse and brush, oh my!
Operation Clean 'n Green sweeps 'em up

July 11, 2005 -- The city collected 4,240 tires and 1,680 tons of refuse during the city's first Clean and Green Campaign this spring, according to a report prepared for the Common Council.

The refuse haul was 23% more than collected in targeted cleanups last year, the report said.

Also hauled away were 7,160 small brush piles and 4,980 skid loader piles of debris.

Greening Milwaukee responded to more than 200 requests for free trees (the "green" part of the program).

Clean and Green, which lasted from April 11 through May 27, targeted one area of the city each week for pickup of bulky items and free tree giveaways.

The effort was funded through a $200,000 Community Development Block Grant and $125,000 in existing neighborhood cleanup funds.

"Participation in the program varied widely by zone," the report said. The least debris by weight was collected on the southwest side; the most was collected on the northwest side, which also generated the most brush. The southeast side had the most skid loader piles of debris -- 1,395 -- and the most tires -- 880 -- were generated by the near north side.

Next year, the report said, the program will start later in the spring so it ends after the Memorial Day weekend. More equipment will be used for brush collection, and there will be a larger effort to get the word out about the campaign. Community and neighborhood groups will be actively recruited to coordinate cleanups in their areas.