Fort Smith spring clean-up campaign begins April 5

Fort Smith is preparing to get clean. The city has scheduled its clean-up on Saturday (April 5) and April 12. The annual clean-ups in April and October of each year are held in conjunction with the Great American and Arkansas Cleanups.

The events allow Fort Smith residents to dispose of unwanted items and general trash at four convenient locations across the city with one location in each of the city’s wards, said Duane McDonald,director of Solid Waste Services.

“These events help prevent illegal dumping and keep our Fort Smith neighborhoods clean,” McDonald said.

Scheduled from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturdays, the event is open to Fort Smith residents only. Those wishing to participate must be able to identify that they are residents of the city, either in the form of a driver’s license or utility bill statement. Link here for more information.

In 2024, residents brought 182 tons of trash to dumpsters during the April cleanup and 184 tons to the October cleanup.

“These cleanups help reduce litter and illegal dumping and enhance the overall appearance of Fort Smith. For city residents, it’s a convenient way to get rid of unwanted items without making a trip to the landfill, saving time and disposal costs,” said James Batura, Solid Waste Services education coordinator.

Dumpsters will be located at Grand Avenue Baptist Church, 3900 Grand Ave.(Ward 1); North 50th and Plum streets (Ward 2); Evan’s Boys and Girls Club, 6015 21st St. (Ward 3); and Goldtrap Gardner Boys and Girls Club, 8800 S. Dallas St. (Ward 4).

During the event, residents can bring regular household trash, furniture, refrigerators, stoves, washers/dryers, freezers and microwaves. Residents not able to transport their items to the dump site have other options, Batura said.

“We offer the Dial-a-Truck service on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday throughout the year. This program allows city residents to schedule one free curbside pickup of up to five large bulky items every three months. Additional Dial-a-Truck pickups can be scheduled for a fee,” he said.

Residents can call (479) 784-2350, option 3 to schedule a pickup.

Following is a list of items that will not be accepted at the cleanup event, including hazardous waste, yard waste and construction waste. Items that are not accepted at the cleanup event can be taken to the public convenience pad at the Fort Smith Landfill, Batura said.

There, residents can safely dispose of:
• Household hazardous waste (such as paints, pool and cleaning chemicals, and batteries) in their original containers for reuse or disposal;
• Electronic waste (like computers, tablets, and mobile phones) for recycling;
• Mixed recyclable materials (including cardboard and paper; plastic bottles, jars, jugs and tubs, aluminum, and steel cans) for recycling;
• Glass bottles for recycling;
• Appliances for recycling (a fee applies to appliances); and
• Yard waste and construction/demolition debris (fee applies).

Link here for more information about the city’s solid waste disposal services.