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GRAYLING — Crawford County Clean Up Day drew the largest crowd in history Saturday, bringing in an estimated 300-plus vehicles in just three hours.
According to spokesperson Carey Jansen, demand was so high that traffic backed up onto M-72 past Skip’s, leaving some residents waiting in line for hours. To help manage the gridlock, volunteers walked car-to-car with wheelbarrows, triaging the line in an effort to fast-track residents.
Organizers reported that a semi-trailer was completely filled with scrap tires during the three-hour event. Supplies used to process household hazardous waste were nearly exhausted by the end of the day.
While the event was an overwhelming success in terms of the volume of waste diverted from landfills, the turnout also highlighted a strong community demand for more frequent recycling opportunities. According to organizers, residents frequently asked why the event is not held more often.
Expanding the program, however, faces steep financial hurdles. Organizers said household hazardous waste disposal is exceptionally expensive, while scrap tire and electronic waste recycling programs depend entirely on securing state grant funding.
Due to the strict time constraints and overwhelming volume, organizers ultimately had to turn away some residents who were still waiting in line at closing time, drawing some local complaints. Officials expressed regret for the inconvenience but emphasized the overall impact of the day’s collection.
