Anchorage starts its spring cleaning

Though Anchorage is postcard-pretty in the summer, it’s trashy in early spring, when the snow melts to reveal a bad case of the uglies -- from routine litter to old mattresses and junked cars.

But each year, the trash and junk disappears as hundreds of volunteers hit the streets in a weeklong cleanup just in time for the tourist season.

The cleanup -- this year’s continues through Saturday -- is coordinated by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce in conjunction with the city, schools and dozens of businesses that donate their employees’ time and elbow grease.

The chamber has been organizing the spring cleanup since 1968.