Even the Dumpster-stuffing at Athletic Park was new and improved.

For the first time, Townsend said, a professional vendor was brought in to handle hazardous household waste. Safety Kleen occupied the southeast corner of Athletic Park, collecting the nastiest of waste materials Anderson residents had on hand.

Mike Driver, industrial sales manager for Safety Kleen, said toxic materials were separated by category: acids, bases, aerosols, flammable liquids, pesticide solids, pesticide liquids and oxidizers. The categories reflect the amount of British thermal units — Btu, a unit of energy — contained in each material.

“We use high-Btu materials to incinerate low-Btu materials,” said Driver, whose team included several handlers and two chemists. “What that does is create inert ash. Nothing goes into a landfill.”

The most commonly collected substance was paint, but oil, caulk, gasoline and kerosene were also gathered. Established in 1968, Safety Kleen has worked with Madison County businesses for years. Now the company will use its expertise to benefit the general population of Anderson.

“Another thing we do that everyone can get behind is collect used oil and recycle it,” Driver said. “We take used oil and re-refine, the same way they do with crude oil. That reduces our dependence on foreign oil. The city is footing the bill for this, so they want to get the most out of it.”

The Citywide Spring Cleanup capped a week of tidying up for the city, a process which began with a press conference from Anderson Mayor Kevin Smith on Tuesday.

The Chamber of Commerce for Anderson and Madison County conducted its annual Downtown Clean Up on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the city continues to solicit sponsors for its Anderson in Bloom program, which will install more than 100 hanging flower baskets for display downtown and on four bridges over the White River. Baskets cost $75 each.

By diversifying its efforts and bringing new voices into the fold, Kim Townsend said, Anderson is finding more success than ever at cleanups.

“We’ve really stepped it up a notch,” Townsend said. “We’re starting to make some serious headway.”