As winter fades into spring, we notice more litter and receive more litter complaints. The City has litter abatement programs, and we encourage everyone to do their fair share by picking up their property, keeping garbage bagged, trash and recycling carts secure, and by helping neighbors or
reporting those routinely out of compliance with City ordinances.
Most of our littering and dumping issues are either on private property or City property that by ordinance is maintained by the adjacent property owner (example: strip of grass/ditch between street and private property). These places can be quite visible, collecting trash from the neighborhood and drive-by litterbugs, creating a big frustration for residents, staff and the
City Council.
What You Can Do
Keep your garbage from blowing around. Bag all trash, and keep carts closed and upright.
Keep your property clear of litter.
Help neighbors or family with their cleanup efforts.
Report nuisance properties online or by calling 573-339-6311.
Schedule a FREE Wednesday Special Pickup. Whether you have storage or debris to clean out of your basement or yard, or maybe you want to pick up an unsightly area in your neighborhood, check out this option. Some limitations apply.
What The City Does
Every residence gets one FREE Wednesday Special Pickup annually for those bulky items or extra bagged trash.
If litter issues become Nuisance Abatement and Police issues, we must give property owners official notice and 10 days to remedy the nuisance. Rental property owners can expect summons for properties not properly maintained after receiving a 10-day notice.
Keep Cape Beautiful does an annual Litter Audit. Though improvement has been shown, the winter-spring transition is often the worst time for litter complaints.
Regular promotion of litter cleanups, special pickups, recycling, and more.
Support official neighborhood groups (Red Star Revival, PORCH) by providing bags, safety vests and twice-annual pickups.
Depending on weather and work-release prisoners available, prisoners could be out removing trash from city right-of-ways.
In addition to weekly trash and recycling pickup, Cape Girardeau Public Works offers other services for items that might be on your spring cleaning list. Wednesday Special Pickups for large, bulky items are available once yearly for no additional charge. Yard waste can be placed into city compost bags, or taken to the Recycling Center or Transfer Station. Some conditions apply; contact Public Works for more information at 573-339-6351 or visit cityofcape.org/publicworks.