Update on Debris Collection

Sep 29th, 2004

Crews continue working to collect the mountains of debris left behind by Hurricane Ivan. "We know it's hard to be patient when you look outside your house and all around the city and see so much trash and debris stacked at curbs and in some cases falling into the streets," said Mayor Mike Dow. But, the Mayor adds, "our city crews and the private contractors hired by the Army Corps of Engineers are working as fast and as hard as they can to get the city cleaned up. It will take time to get the job done."

The city has been divided into zones for collection with city trash crews working in what is referred to as Zone 2 and private contractors in the other three. Officials with the Army Corps of Engineers who are overseeing the project estimate it will take everyone working together at least 2 to 3 months to collect all of the debris. There are 40 crews working various zones throughout the county and the Corps is still in the process of hiring private contractors. They plan to have as many as 50 crews including the city's 13 up and running soon.

The crews are collecting an average of 10-thousand cubic yards of trash per day. Two cubic yards are equal to about the size of a "porta-potty"-or 3x3x3. As of Tuesday, September 28th, crews had collected nearly 100-thousand cubic yards of trash throughout the county.

When trucks pick up trash the first time, there will be debris left over--most likely smaller pieces such as grass, leaves or small limbs that the big scoop or shovel on the trucks can't get or that falls out. This will leave a messy area on the street or on the curb. City officials and private contractors ask that residents please rake or sweep up the leftovers, put it all into a bag and leave it on the curb for a second collection.

Residents are asked not to place appliances, furniture or other "trash" on the curb for collection now, unless the items were damaged in the hurricane. Regular city trash collection of these items will begin when all the hurricane debris is removed. Keeping the hurricane debris separated from other trash will help the process move faster. Residents are urged to separate their vegetative debris (tree limbs, shrubbery) from construction debris and other items. If you put out a refrigerator or freezer for collection, be sure to remove all doors for safety reasons.

If you have problems or concerns, call the city's action center for information at 208-7999.