City Offers Free Dump Days, Cleanup Event

Spring is in the air, and with spring comes spring cleaning.

As city residents declutter their homes this season, Sallisaw city officials want to remind them of the two free visits to the city dump they may take advantage of each month.

City Manager Keith Skelton said officials made the decision to end the spring and fall cleanup events because of the abuse of the services.

“It was getting really hard to manage,” Skelton said, explaining that a lot of items were brought in from outside the city limits for pick-up. “It was taking up hours from two of the city departments to collect all that trash.”

Skelton said as an alternative, the city allows residential customers two no-charge disposal dumps per month on any day during normal business hours at the landfill.

To take advantage of the service, city residents must show a valid driver’s license with their Sallisaw city address, along with a recent utility bill showing the same service address as their driver’s license.

He said all loads must fit inside a normal ½-ton pickup bed; trailers up to 16-feet with side rails up to 4 feet will be allowed to dump as well. No dump trucks will be allowed to utilize the no-charge program, nor will business vehicles with logos.

Skelton said normal household waste from the customer’s residence will be accepted, along with yard debris such as leaves, dirt and grass clippings, brush and demolition items, only if it originated from the customer’s residence and fits within the required dimensions of the truck and/or trailer.

Once a customer uses his or her two no-charge dump days each month, trash can be taken to the landfill for a regular trip free, which is $26.25 per ton, with a minimum fee of $18.

To assist city residents with their spring cleaning, the City of Sallisaw will hold a “Chunk Your Junk” day on Saturday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The city will have dumpsters set up to the west of the Sallisaw Electric Department just north of the railroad tracks off of North Elm Street.

This event is for getting rid of junk that is easily hauled and handled by one person. Customers are responsible for bagging all items before arrival and unloading all trash into the dumpsters; all unloading will be supervised by city personnel. 

City officials remind residents they will not accept items such as paint, oil, pesticides, batteries, tires, or other hazardous waste at this event. Allowed items for disposal at “Chunk Your Junk” day include bagged leaves, small plants, metal, wood/lumber, landscaping materials, furniture, bedding, cans, bundled cardboard and small appliances, provided they have been drained of any coolant or refrigerant.

A copy of the customer’s utility bill is required for this event.

Pam Cloud, Managing News Director

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