Cleanup nets tons of trash

STAFF REPORT

Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Tech Sgt. Jeremy Robishaw, left, and Staff Sgt. Destini Yaden of Cannon Air Force Base’s 27th Special Operations Squadron Medical Group pick up trash along Seventh Street during the Great American Cleanup on Saturday. There were 17 groups participating in the event who collected 461 bags of trash.

A total of 17 groups participated in the Great American Cleanup, going throughout the city to find cans, bottles, wrappers or whatever else ended up on the ground over the last few months.

When the four-hour pickup was finished and groups met up at the Parks and Recreation Building, 461 bags of trash had been collected. Boy Scouts took top honors with 120 bags, followed by a pair of Cannon Air Force Base groups. The 9th Aircraft Maintenance Unit collected 52 bags, while the 27th Special Operations Squadron filled 42.

In the tonage category, considered separate from bagged trash, Cannon’s 551st brought in 4.12 tons of trash, while a team of just three from Curry County collected 0.6 tons.

Parks, Recreation and Beautification Committee Chair Fidel Madrid was pleased with the turnout.

“Overall, it went really well,” Madrid said. “With the rain we had (Friday), I was worried it would be a good crowd, but it did turn out to be a good crowd. It was a nice and cool day, too.”

The Great American Cleanup is one of two annual trash pickup events. The Trek For Trash is held in the fall.

The city, in conjunction with the pickup, is waiving landfill fees until noon Monday. Clovis residents may bring in tires for free, with a nine-tire limit.