By NICOLE LOGGINS / Staff Writer

April 14 and Oct. 6 will be the two free days at the Shelby County landfill for 2012, the county commission announced Jan. 23.

According to Robert Kelley, the environmental manager for the Shelby County landfill, the county has been hosting a free landfill day for around 12-15 years.

Kelley said around eight years ago the county expanded free landfill days to two days a year, one in the spring and one in the fall.

“In the springtime we have more traffic than in the fall,” Kelley said.

In the spring, the landfill receives about 900-1,200 vehicles between 7 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. while the fall brings out 600-800 vehicles.

“We usually post two people directing traffic,” Kelley said. “The whole thing is for people to clean out their basements and closets and do their spring cleaning,” he said. “I see a lot of people take advantage of it.”

Residents, churches and civic groups in the county can dispose of trash at the landfill for no charge.

The debris is required to be residential and household debris and limited to a one-ton truck or less. All commercial vehicles will be charged the usual rate unless they are approved through the Shelby County Department of Environmental Services.

“We very seldom have anybody who has to wait for more than 10 minutes,” Kelley said.