The first of four community clean up events being staged by the City of Manteca takes place this Saturday, March 16.

It is part of upgraded solid waste services that will — possibly by year’s end — include weekly tipping of green (yard/food waste), blue (recycling), and brown (garbage) carts.

Residents are encouraged to bring their trucks and trailers to dispose of green waste, bulky items, tires, e-waste, mattresses, appliances, and more.

The first event this Saturday at Woodward Park is from 8 a.m. until noon.

The events are being conducted by council districts.

This Saturday’s event is for District 2 residents only.

District 2  consists of areas south of the 120 Bypass and east of Union Road as well as west of Highway 99 with the exception of The Collective neighborhood restricted to residents 55 years and older.

Separate events are planned in the coming weeks in the other three council districts.

The city will accept one truck and trailer.

No moving vans (U-Haul etc.) or commercial vehicles will be allowed.

Trailers can’t be longer than 8 feet.

Participants need to bring a copy of their city utility bill as well as a government issued ID.

Residents are responsible for unloading their own items.

The line cuts off at 2 p.m. sharp. Anyone getting in line behind the City of Manteca’s “last car” will be denied entry to the event.

No hazardous materials are allowed.

Contact the solid waste office at (209) 456-8440 if you have any questions regarding the community clean-up event.

Other recycling opportunities

offered by City of Manteca

The city has other free recycling services available.

*Electronic waste such as TVs, computers, printers, microwaves, phones and such can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Solid Waste Division office on Wetmore Street across from the water tower.

*Medical sharps as well as used batteries such as A, AA, AAA, C, and D are also accepted at the Solid Waste Division office on Wetmore Street Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Used light bulbs can be taken to the Manteca Home Depot store.

As for unwanted or expired medication, if you are unable to take them to the police department’s lobby drop box, there is another safe way of disposing of them. You can also drop them off at other locations such as the pharmacy at Safeway and Kaiser medical Officers. Both have drop-off bins.

Take a zip lock plastic bag, empty pills into the bag, pour in either milk or kitty litter, and then smash the contents until it turns into a paste.

The zip lock bag of paste can then be tossed into the garbage.

It is illegal to flush prescriptions and over the counter drugs down the toilet or simply throw them into a garbage can.

You can also secure a free bin once a year for curbside pickup. For more details contact the solid waste division at (209) 456-8440 between 6 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They will send you the proper forms to fill out.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com