Between May 6 and May 10, you may have noticed large piles of household waste lining the streets of the Fargo-Moorhead area. Are the plethora of discarded couches due to a sudden spike in front yard bonfires? No, they are a telltale indicator of the best week of the year for local scavengers. Spring Cleanup Week is an annual event that allows residents of the Fargo-Moorhead area to dispose of large items like fridges and furniture as well as an unlimited amount of household trash.
One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Each year residents look forward to Cleanup Week as a chance to clear out a cluttered workshop, garage, or room with no restrictions on the items that can be disposed of. Simply toss it on the curb and that clutter is gone from your life forever. When driving around town it is clear to see that not every item that was thrown out is in bad condition, tossing things out that are only partly broken or lightly used is a common practice. Because of this, “Junkers”, people looking for hidden treasures, patrol the streets in search of copper wire, furniture, washing machines, antiques, etc.
If you are planning to try out junking next year, there are a few things you should consider trying to increase your enjoyment of the experience. Sammy Martin says, “The tallest blade of grass gets cut the most.” This is true, so set your expectations low and allow yourself to be pleasantly surprised when you find a gem. Bring a vehicle capable of hauling just about anything. You never know if you’ll be bringing back a set of tea cups or a 200-pound oak armoire, so come overprepared. Set some goals for “dream items” you hope, but don’t expect to find on the curb. Like a kayak or a nice bike.
From an ecological standpoint, Junk Week is great because it allows others to reuse products and materials that were thrown out by other people. The downside of Junk Week is that most people don’t see it as a chance to retain more used items. Most people just watch as their trash, objectively more treasure than trash, is taken by a dump truck and put to rest in a land fill atop an ever-growing mountain. The idea that all things are disposable, and that we can’t fix our own broken products is an idea that has been conceptualized throughout the past few generations. A week where anything can be thrown away doesn’t help us change our mindset, but it does showcase a real problem and show that we need change. Heaps of garbage removed from our homes every year may indicate that we have too much stuff, and when buying products, it is important to consider the affects of their production and eventual disposal.
During the 2019 junking season I found a gem. As I hustled to school I spotted a purple, yellow, and black kayak resting expectantly on the boulevard. I slammed on the brakes and, without hesitation, threw it in the back of my truck and headed to school. The kayak has a few holes but is in recoverable condition. With some intense scrutinization I found the company that the vessel originated from. Werner Paddles based out of Sultan, WA. I emailed the customer service of the company and got a response from the current owner, Bruce Furrer. He was impressed to see this boat, originally constructed by the founder of the company, his uncle, in the 1970’s in Fargo, ND. While this may not happen each item you find a gem, the chance that it will is worth chasing.