Old technology got the old heave-ho during Drumheller’s recent Spring Cleanup.
From May 5 to May 16, Town crews collected 185 computers, 279 televisions and 90 microwaves for disposal.
That’s 85 more computers than residents disposed of last year, and a few units over last year’s numbers each for microwaves and televisions.
Drumhellerites had a lot of materials stashed away at their homes - 269.47 metric tonnes of household materials were hauled away by the Town.
The household total also includes wood and compost.
Tammy Nygaard, Operations Manager for the Drumheller & District Solid Waste Management Assocation, said the total collected for household in Drumheller during Spring Cleanup is the equivalent of one full year’s garbage in a smaller community with a population of 270 people.
That equates to about 135 half ton trucks.
Nygaard notes that’s a decrease in last year’s total of 283.37 metric tonnes, or 4.9 per cent.
There was a sharp spike in propane tanks collected over last year - 2014 saw 237 tanks collected, compared to 2013’s 159.
This year the town also collected 404 tires, 1,020 paint cans, 89 appliances containing freon, 43 batteries, and 40 metric tonnes of metal only.
Manhours spent by crews on the spring cleanup work out to 864 regular hours, and 107 hours in overtime.
Nygaard identified problems with this year’s cleanup as a lack of public sorting and separating their items, those rummaging through the materials making a mess of the pre-sorted piles, and unmanageable piles of trees.
