Aaron Casto of Marietta empties the bed of his pickup truck at the community cleanup Saturday at the Jackson Dog Park in Marietta. (Photo by Michele Newbanks)

MARIETTA — About 50 tons of unwanted items were taken to the Jackson Dog Park and Flanders Field in Marietta this past weekend.

This was the second year for the community cleanup, when Marietta residents have the chance to clean out their garages and basements and throw out anything broken.

Dozens of people took advantage of the opportunity.

Todd Stockel, Marietta’s community response specialist, was keeping watch over the dumping site at the Jackson Dog Park. He said at times, there were cars four deep, filled with everything from mattresses to TVs, lawnmowers, furniture, latex paint and broken children’s toys.

As of Saturday afternoon, the two 40-cubic-yard dumpsters and one 30-cubic-yard dumpster were full, and items were just being left on the ground. Behind one of the larger dumpsters, old mattresses were piled up, waiting to be carted off.

Stockel kept a running tally of what kind of vehicles were being emptied out. At Jackson Park on Friday, there were 26 pickups, 11 SUVs, three pickups with trailers, seven sedans and two vans filled with items.

On Saturday, another 35 pickups, 20 SUVs, nine trucks with trailers (both filled), three sedans and seven vans were unloaded.

Stockel said the trash would be mashed down in the dumpsters and taken away today to be emptied. They will be returned for the next go-round, when the community cleanup will continues next Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at both Jackson Park and Flanders Field in Harmar.

Items such as batteries, refrigerators and air conditioners will not be accepted.

Michele Newbanks can be reached at mnewbanks@mariettatimes.com.