Update: County gives annual cleanup events schedule

The Merced County Department of Public Works has announced its annual community cleanup events schedule.

At the cleanup events, residents can toss tires, appliances and other large waste at severely reduced costs. An entire car or truck load of waste to be emptied will be charged $1 or $2, respectively. Mattresses and large appliances cost $1 to discard during the cleanups compared to the usual $5 and $10 to $18.

The Merced County Solid Waste Division received a grant that allows each resident to ditch up to four passenger tires. Additional trashed tires will run $1 a piece.

Cleanup dates and locations for 2010 will be:

Jan23: Santa Nella Feb. 6: El Nido Feb 20: Winton Feb 27: Delhi March 13: Snelling March 20: Franklin/Beachwood March 27: Stevinson April 10: Hilmar April 17: Le Grand April 24: South Dos Palos Sept. 11: Planada Sept. 25: McSwain The cleanup sites can’t accept household liquids, auto fluids, heavy equipment and tractor tires, treated wood, electronic waste or large commercial dumps. Each cleanup event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, call the Merced County Department of Public Works at (209) 385-7601. -- Danielle E. Gaines