When the Junk Days on Demand pilot program launched on June 1, 2020, the goal was simple – help current sanitation customers get rid of bulk items that did not fit into their garbage carts. This format provided several key advantages to residents: the ability to schedule a pickup on a week that worked best for their busy lives, the ability to schedule multiple pickups over the 12-week period, and the opportunity to dispose of items not collected during the traditional annual Clean Up. The response was overwhelmingly positive, and it was a no-brainer to bring it back the following year.

In 2021, collection shifted from the Wednesday of residents’ designated recycling weeks to weekly on the designated garbage day. This effectively doubled a customer’s opportunity to dispose of unwanted large items. Again, there was a significant positive response from the community. Utilization of Junk Days on Demand continued to grow over the summer months and bulk item collection through the program exceeded the traditional clean-up by over 100 tons last year.

As 2022 progresses, the information shows that 2022 Junk Days on Demand is on pace to exceed 2021 numbers. It also demonstrates Junk Days on Demand is a much more cost-effective method of operating this service provided to our residents. To ensure that all current sanitation customers have ample opportunity to dispose of any items they may have, the city of Fort Dodge is announcing that this summer’s Junk Days on Demand is the only program this year. There will be no separate annual “clean-up” in the fall.

Junk Days on Demand & Clean Up at a glance:

Traditional clean-up days labor costs are between 2 1/2 and 3 times higher than Junk Days on Demand labor costs.

2021 Traditional clean-up days labor costs: $217 per ton

2021 Junk Days on Demand labor costs: $84 per ton

In 2021, Junk Days on Demand collected 2 1/2 times more tons than the traditional clean-up days.

2021 Traditional clean-up days: 70.23 tons

2021 Junk Days on Demand: 171.37 tons

Utilization of Junk Days on Demand in 2022 is up 16 percent from the same time period as last year.

Current sanitation customers have at least a dozen opportunities to dispose of their bulk items instead of the single-day set-up of spring or fall clean-up. Bonus – the weather isn’t a factor as it is in early spring and the fall.