MILWAUKEE — Project Clean & Green is underway in Milwaukee to help residents dispose of large debris.

Roy Brown has worked in sanitation for the City of Milwaukee for 18 years. He is one of the workers that helps make the project happen.

“I really enjoy my job. I didn’t plan on being a garbage man, but you know what, once I got with the city and they told me this was where I was going to be doing. I love it. Every day is different,” said Brown.

From April to late May, collection crews are targeting different areas of the city.

Brown said they are picking up unwanted furniture, mattresses, household items and yard waste.

“I know the residents. They really appreciate it,” Brown said. “They love to see us coming. If we don’t do it, who else is going to do it?”

Jeffery Smith is the Sanitation Area Manager.

He said the first week of Project Clean & Green starts in the central part of the city. It will then go to five different zones over the next five weeks.

Smith encourages any Milwaukee resident who wants their large debris picked up to leave it for them the night before their collection day.

“We have people who have a lot of material that may have been stored up and ready to get rid of and this is the opportunity where it’s no charge during this time period as long as it is less than six cubic yards, we pick it up for free,” said Smith.

Brown said most of the time, garbage crews aren’t able to pick large items. That’s because they don’t have the time or the room.

Project Clean & Green allows Brown to play a bigger role in cleaning up the city by helping residents dispose of those hard to throw away items.

 “Number one, it keeps the city looking good. It keeps it clean, keeps rodents away. It gives everyone a sense of pride with it nice and clean,” Brown said.

It also gives Brown a sense of pride knowing that he is keeping his city clean and green.

To see when sanitation crews plan to pick up debris in each part of the city, visit https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/cityDPW/divisions/operations/docs/CleanandGreenMap.pdf.