AUBURN — Spring cleanup will be back in June, with city trucks collecting brush curbside for residents that register for the service.

Those interested in having brush and branches collected need to call the city Public Works Department at 333-6670 by May 28. Public Works Director Bob Belz said the city will begin collecting brush at those residences after June 7.

It's a good solution that should save the city money, City Manager Glenn Aho said Monday. Councilors agreed, voting 6-0 to approve the collections.

Councilors decided in April to end this year's free curbside collection of bulky waste, old appliances and furniture. But councilors asked Aho to investigate offering a collection to people willing to pay for the service.

After considering letting residents pay to have the city cart off bulky items, Aho said he's settled on the brush collection program. Residents would be able to register with the city to have brush collected, free of charge.

The city will also sell tickets for residents wanting to take bulky items, old furniture and appliances to the Mid-Maine Waste Action Corp. on Goldthwaite Road. Residents can buy those tickets at the Public Works office on Gracelawn Road or in the City Clerk's Office in the Auburn City Building.

Each ticket will cost $20, enough to cover the city's costs, Aho said.

Councilors also voted to change the city's curbside recycling collections, going to a twice-monthly schedule beginning July 6.

The city will continue to collect and sort recycling at the curb, but collections would be reduced to two times per month. If a month has five weeks, there will be no collections on the fifth week.

staylor@sunjournal.com