Spring cleaning in Bloomington just got a little easier with the city's Curbside Cleanup in full swing, a biennial tradition set to tackle the clutter in residents' lives on Saturdays from April 6 to May 4. Homeowners can bid farewell to their bulky trash, old appliances, and brush, piling these discards at their curb on their designated collection Saturday for a haul-away service that separates recyclables from landfill-bound refuse.
The city's solid waste guidelines urge Bloomingtonians to wheel out items—at a maximum weight of 100 pounds each—that have lost the chance for reuse or recycling, limiting neighborhood eyesores and ensuring the streets don't become dumping grounds before scheduled pickup days, residents who jumped the gun, setting out materials too early or those who snooze on the 7 a.m. curbside deadline will face the task of either disposing of their leftovers themselves or coughing up an extra fee for a special bulky materials pickup.
As outlined on Bloomington's official website, "Curbside Cleanup is only for Bloomington residents" and warns that excess materials may lead to additional charges—it’s clear that participating households must be part of the city's utility billing system, boasting a "Bulky Item Management Fee" on their bills to qualify. Questions regarding eligibility are directed towards the City Utility Billing Department while alternative arrangements are encouraged for those in apartments and townhomes not automatically included.
But it's not all about the purge; the city has also established a monthly pick-up service for bulky items in good condition, with furniture, appliances, and even bikes whisked away to non-profits like Bridging and Better Futures MN, where functioning goods get a second lease on life. Certain not-so-lucky wares, unable to fulfill the hopes of reuse, are sent to local facilities for recycling, a full list of eligible items and proper prep instructions is available on the Bloomington website for those who want to take part.
For the eco-conscious looking to responsibly part ways with what the Curbside Cleanup won’t cover, the Green Disposal Guide is a treasure trove of disposal wisdom. By visiting the Hennepin County's webpage or making a call, residents can navigate the proper channels of dumping the undumpable, learning how to say goodbye in the greenest of ways to what they can no longer keep.
