Golden Valley Declutters and Donates

For the fifth year in a row, Golden Valley just got cleaner and more decluttered, as hundreds turned out for this weekend.

Lance Platt was one of several hundred people who drove over to on Saturday. He was getting rid of an outdated computer and an old DVD player.

"It was just sitting there in the garage," he said. "I was tired of looking at it, and this was the perfect opportunity to get it out of sight and out of mind."

Five hours of collecting TVs, mattresses and straight-up junk filled several semi trailers. Two trailers alone were full of old televisions and electronics alone.

"There are opportunities to get rid of stuff all year around Minneapolis and through the county," said Darrell Hoekstra, a manager with Waste Management—which collected and hauled away a majority of the collected items. "But having this so close to home almost forces you to just do it."

Not everything was deemed trash, however. Volunteers from the city, the , and loaded two trucks with furniture and household goods for Bridging, a Twin Cities charity that helps families transitioning out of homelessness.

"Bridging was impressed and will definitely be back next year," Mayor Linda Loomis, who volunteered on Saturday, said in a Facebook post. "A great big thank you to all the volunteers. We couldn't have done it without your help."

If you missed Mighty Tidy Day, and are looking for a place to dispose of that old television or mattress, you can visit Hennepin County's "how-to" guide on getting rid of household waste. And if you've got used furniture to donate, you can contact Bridging to find out how to donate it.  The Salvation Army also picks up large items for donation as well.