Neighborhood Cleanup Program

Neighborhood Cleanup Program Guidelines

The City of Columbia, Missouri’s Office of Neighborhood Services (ONS) is committed to maintaining neighborhoods as clean and safe places to live, work and raise a family. To that end, ONS has implemented the Neighborhood Cleanup Program. Neighborhood cleanups are also a great way to help residents get in compliance with city ordinances if they have items in their yard that are prohibited. Free dumpsters and other cleaning supplies are made available to city-recognized neighborhood associations and community non-profit organizations that organize neighborhood cleanup efforts. The City can also connect neighborhoods with other volunteers to assist with the cleanup and provide vehicles to help transport items from the curb to the dumpster.

Program Requirements

The neighborhood association should secure the project date and provide the City at least 2 weeks advance notification.
Dumpsters and other cleanup materials provided by the City are to be used for residential cleanup projects only.
City staff will determine best locations for dumpster placement. Dumpsters will be placed in the street whenever possible—if placement on private property is the best option, neighborhood leaders will be responsible for obtaining permission from the property owner.
Cleanups must be organized by a neighborhood leader or community non-profit organization. A project coordinator must be designated.
Residents must bring their items for disposal to the dumpster or be left at the curb for pickup. Volunteers should not enter private property to pick up items for disposal.
The project coordinator must assume responsibility for the following:

Completion of the Neighborhood Cleanup Program application.
Submission of a written authorization from property owner for the placement of dumpster on private property (if applicable).
Communication to residents about the date and other details of the cleanup. This could be done via e-mail if the association has a complete contact list or through leaving flyers at each residence.
Ensure that the dumpster does not become overloaded or contaminated with prohibited materials (see disposal requirements).

Dumpsters will be delivered prior to the morning of the event (Monday through Saturday only) and the project coordinator will be responsible for notifying Public Works when the dumpster is ready for removal.

Disposal Requirements

Acceptable Materials to be Placed in Dumpster:

Bagged or boxed trash.
Unusable furniture.
Mattresses/box springs.
Toys, swing sets, misc. junk.
Un-repairable items (bicycles, BBQ grills, etc.).
Grass, leaves, plant and shrub trimmings, tree branches (no longer that 4 feet in length).

Items requiring special pick-up (arrangements to be made prior to event) Do we need to provide information on who to call or how to handle this?

Electronics.
Appliances (refrigerators, dishwashers, clothes washers and dryers).
Tires.

ONS will assist in making these arrangements if necessary.

Hazardous waste removal IS NOT allowed under the Neighborhood Cleanup Program, but can be taken to the Public Works HHW collection site the first and third Saturdays of each month, April through November from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Collections are held at the Grissum building, 1313 Lakeview Dr. near the City Power Plant.

Neighborhood Cleanup Program Application