April is ‘Clean up trash month’

The Ozark County Commissioners signed a proclamation Monday designating April as “Clean Up Trash Month” to encourage residents to tidy up roadways and public areas across the county. Here, presiding commissioner John Turner sports one of the safety vests he’s loaning to anyone participating; he also has MoDOT trash bags for roadside trash pickup. MoDOT will pick up the filled trash bags left on the shoulders of area roadways. Several groups and individuals took part in the clean-up effort last year, and the commissioners hope Ozark Countians will pitch in again this year. Throughout April, a dumpster designated for roadside trash will be available at the Ozark County Recycling Center on County Road 502 via County Road 513 off Highway 160 west of Gainesville. The facility, which is open from 7 a.m to 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, accepts paper, magazines, newspapers, cardboard, clean plastic containers with a number 1 or 2 on the bottom, glass and any kind of metal. It also accepts regular household trash for $2 per bag. No tires or hazardous materials will be accepted. For more information or to arrange pick-up of safety vests or trash bags, call the commissioners’ office at 679-4096.