Teamwork made Clean-up Day quick and easy for particpants

The Thousand Oaks Acorn salutes everyone who had anything to do with last Saturday's Clean-up Day.

It's a Thousand Oaks tradition on Memorial Day weekend, a welcome event that gives residents a chance to rid themselves of unwanted items and rubbish (except for hazardous waste). Spring cleaning in our city is a lot easier because of Clean-up Day. Free of charge, residents could dispose of yard waste, old furniture, appliances- and most importantly-electronic equipment.

The event was an incredible success. Nearly 1,900 vehicles arrived and delivered 22 tons of concrete, 50 tons of green waste and 26 tons of trash.

Just about everyone knows by now that computer and stereo equipment, and TVs and VCRs are hazardous to the environment. These items should never be tossed out with household trash. The only way to get rid of electronic waste (aka "e-waste") is during organized recycling drives.

Clean-up Day accepts those old computers, monitors, printers, scanners, televisions, etc. that would otherwise pollute the environment.

Efficiency is another reason that Clean-up Day is a success. Based on experience, the city and its disposal companies know how to organize it to save time and effort.

Participants only need to separate their items by categories. After showing identification that proves residency, people are directed to specific collection sites.

We were impressed again this year by the whole operation. It was thoroughly professional.

We learned, too, that the long line of early birds actually can be avoided by arriving just a little later (8:30 a.m. or so). Participants who arrived 30 minutes after the opening of Clean-up Day didn't have to wait in line and went immediately to the collection sites.

Congratulations again to everyone who made Cleanup Day a success.

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