Free use of Perry Ridge Landfill from 8 a.m. until noon May 24 for Du Quoin residents

The City of Du Quoin, in cooperation with Perry Ridge Landfill, is sponsoring a citywide cleanup day, and has arranged for residents of the city to be able to haul trash, debris and junk to the landfill at no charge.

This citywide cleanup effort will be held on Saturday, May 24 from 8 a.m.until 12 noon.

All residents of the city are strongly encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity to clean up the city. All citizens will be responsible for hauling and disposing of their own material.

Items that CAN NOT be taken to the landfill for disposal are stoves and ranges, refrigerators, hot water heaters, furnaces, microwaves, air conditioners, tires, batteries, paint cans (containing liquid), yard waste (leaves, grass, tree limbs), computers and other similar electrical equipment, medical waste and used oil.

Citizens will have to show proof of residency prior to entering the landfill for free dumping. All non-residents will be charged the normal landfill rates. No businesses will be allowed to take trash, debris and junk to the landfill.

Please help clean up the community by following the program guidelines. "This should be a very welcomed opportunity. Don't abuse it," said public works director Doug Bishop.

Bishop told the Du Quoin City Council Monday that this is the first of several spring cleanup initiatives.

He hopes to have an event where local residents can make use of city-sponsored dumpsters for a day and hopes that a second event might enlist residents and community groups to walk Du Quoin's neighborhoods and the downtown picking up litter. Plans for those projects have not ye been finalized.