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Spring is always a good time to tidy up, and the City of Suffolk is making it easy this year with several convenient ways to get rid of unsightly or unwanted clutter.

Keep Suffolk Beautiful is hosting a Recycling Drive and Tire Amnesty Day for Suffolk residents from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. this Saturday at the Public Works Operations facility at 800 Carolina Road. This is a free event and a great chance for folks doing their spring cleaning to recycle and responsibly dispose of items around the house, garage, shed and backyard.

The Suffolk Sheriff’s Office and Suffolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office will be on site to manage free document shredding. Sheriff E.C. Harris reminds us that shredding has merit beyond decluttering.

“We look forward to working with the public and reinforcing the importance of protecting themselves against identity theft and to encourage this opportunity for safe document disposal,” he said. “Identity theft is one of the fastest-growing crimes in the nation and we look forward to educating the public and helping out.”

Deputies will be available to answer questions about identification protection. Please note that during busy times, residents will be limited to three grocery bags of documents.

“Tire amnesty” is also part of the event. Residents are encouraged to bring unwanted rimless tires that are 22 inches or less. There are no limits on the number of tires a homeowner can bring, but you must show proof of Suffolk residency. Tires from commercial businesses will not be accepted.

Other items that will be accepted for disposal or recycling electronics (except for tube TVs or TVs larger than 42 inches), gently used clothing, wares, batteries, plastic bottles and jugs No. 1 and No. 2, cardboard, paper, magazines, plastic bags, large appliances, scrap metal and glass containers.

SPSA Waste Solutions will collect household hazardous waste from any resident with a Suffolk ID. This includes oil, gasoline, antifreeze, cleaners, propane tanks, paint, pesticides, CFL lightbulbs and more. The disposal of such items is limited to five gallons of liquid or 75 pounds of solid waste.

We agree with Kathy Russell, chairman of Keep Suffolk Beautiful, who says that “recycling comes in so many forms – not just paper, bottles, and cans. Help us be a good steward of the Earth by recycling items over and above what can be put in your blue recycling cart.”

For more information on Saturday’s events, visit http://www.suffolkva.us/339/Recycling-Drives, call 757-514 7604 or email: ksb@suffolkva.us