Roy Williams, Spruce Up Pekin’s coordinator, said this may be his last go-round. He started the event in 1991.

He met with the Spruce Up Pekin committee and city officials Wednesday to plan the event, and to meet the new city employees who replaced former Superintendent of Transportation and Solid Waste Greg Ranney.

“They all asked good questions,” he said. “Everybody had input, so it was fantastic.”

From 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 7, people can drop off their trash at four locations — the Mineral Springs Park parking lot, Fire Station No. 2 at 14th and Willow streets, 1208 Koch St., and the intersection of Knapp and Sapp streets.

No yard waste, paint, propane tanks or aerosol cans will be accepted.

More volunteers are needed for the day of the event. Williams can be contacted at 346-4432.

“We are doing whatever we can to clean up our city,” said Wes Lannert, a longtime member of the committee. “It’s a good community event, of course. It’s just something that I enjoy volunteering for because it helps everyone. It helps make my neighborhood look nice. It makes my city look nice.”

Every spring and fall, Spruce Up Pekin becomes a community event — grocery stores and restaurants will provide food and water for volunteers — and several area business will advertise the event on their marquees as the event nears.

Hardee’s, McDonald’s, Steak ’n Shake, Burger King and Culver’s will provide meals for the volunteers, which also will include 12 women from the Federal Correctional Institution-Pekin women’s workcamp.

Walmart will supply doughnuts, Food Depot will bring water and the Salvation Army will provide coffee.

City officials said a tire collector has not been located yet, but that tires will be accepted at the 1208 Koch St. location only. A tire fee has not been determined.

Scrap metal and larger metal appliances will be accepted at the Mineral Springs Park location.

At that location, Going Green Computers will collect computers and other electronics.

Lenz Oil Services from Peoria will collect used oil — including vegetable oil —for the first time at Spruce Up Pekin. Williams said the company specializes in recycling the oil into what’s called “waste gasoline.”

Interstate Batteries will also be at the park location.

X-Waste is supplying the dumpsters for all locations. Chuck Taylor of the Sign Shop supplies the banners.

City of Pekin administrative assistant Paula Gensel said the city is making an effort to get more people to attend Spruce Up this spring, because the costs for recyclers and garbage collectors have gone up and they need a good turn-out to make the trip worthwhile.

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