Anchorage

Photos: Anchorage's free dump day

Now in its 46th year, the day marks one of two days each year when people can drop off up to 1,000 pounds of waste. It's part of the municipality's annual Anchorage Chamber Citywide Cleanup, but also a good chance to just foster goodwill about the landfill, according to Solid Waste Services Director Paul Alcantar.

For example, instead of dropping garbage off at the platform where trash is usually collected, visitors get to drive down deep into the landfill's "active face" to deposit their waste, where they get a winding tour of the site in the process.

Last year, 5,350 vehicles went through the municipality's three open transfer sites -- including the central transfer station in Anchorage and another in Girdwood. In total, about 1,235 tons of trash was collected.

Read more: On Anchorage's free dump day, the catharsis of spring cleaning carries no cost

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