Spring is here, and with that comes the responsibility of cleaning up from yet another winter.

Whether you’re cleaning indoors or outdoors, this week is the time to do it because on Saturday city residents have the chance to get rid of items at the Albert Lea transfer station at free or reduced rates.

On Hometown Pride Spring Cleanup Day from 9 a.m. to noon at the transfer station, city residents can dispose of brush, yard waste, household garbage and demolition debris for free, while appliances, mattresses and sofas are $10 each. Other furniture is $5 and passenger car tires are $3.

Take advantage of the reduced rates to clear out those leaves sitting behind from last fall or get rid of that stuff that has been piling up.

Let’s help make our city shine.

On Wednesday, Freeborn County will offer its first of several household hazardous waste collections — this time from noon to 3 p.m. in Freeborn.

Over the month of May, there are three other collections scheduled — one in Hollandale on May 11, one in Albert Lea on May 14 and one in Alden on May 19. The Albert Lea collection is at the city transfer station, while the collections in the other cities are generally near a city hall or fire station.

Residents are allowed to attend a collection in any city.

Items that should be disposed of at the collection include agriculture chemicals, acids, antifreeze, gasoline, weed and insect killer, liquid paints, stains, fluorescent bulbs and automobile batteries, to name a few.

When in doubt, contact Freeborn County Environmental Services at 377-5186.

There will be an electronics collection from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 27 for items such as televisions, microwaves, toasters, vacuums, laptops.

Please take the time to dispose of things properly to protect  the environment of our family and friends in this beautiful city.