Sanitation Services Trash Elimination Program (STEP)

Sanitation Services' Trash Elimination Program -- a concentrated sweep through a selected neighborhood each month to focus on cleaning up litter, removing abandoned vehicles, and making sure that vacant lots are maintained.

Citizens are encouraged to participate in STEP, which is organized by Sanitation Services & Fleet Management and includes volunteers from Clean & Green.

Sanitation Services employees developed the program after residents and City Council members expressed a need for a strike unit to clean neighborhoods.  During the build-up to cleaning day, informational flyers are delivered door-to-door to residents.  The Department's Code Enforcement activity conducts a sweep of the area and identifies and addresses any code violations.  Enforcement Officers will placard any abandoned vehicles and if not removed within 10 days, the vehicles are towed.  Overgrown vacant properties are also identified and the property owners sent a Notice of Violation giving the owners 10 days to cut their property.  If at the end of the time period the property remains overgrown, the Code Enforcement lot crew cuts the property and a bill is sent to the property owner.  When cleaning day arrives, Sanitation Services employees will collect material placed curbside while volunteers from Clean & Green will help residents clean and remove debris from private property.