SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – After any storm it’s not unusual to see piles of tree branches and debris in your neighborhood. You may be used to a special debris pick up after a hurricane where haulers come around and clear everything out curbside, but that is not happening after Hurricane Helene.
News 6 found out none of the counties in Central Florida will be offering special debris pick up because the impact of Hurricane Helen was minimal in this area.
Oliver Bond, the solid waste division manager in Seminole County, says typically the county contracts with debris removers after a major storm. But the county was not part of the state’s request for federal disaster assistance, so no additional funding is available for special storm debris pickup.
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“This particular storm, there really wasn’t the impact in this area to justify bringing in our haulers. There are 250,000 homes in Seminole County, and the average home really didn’t see significant impacts,” Bond said.
Residents are encouraged to treat debris from Hurricane Helene like regular yard waste.
Follow these guidelines:
- Do not pile debris at the curbside. It must be bundled or bagged or in a bin.
- Reduce limbs and branches to less than 4 feet in length and 4 inches in diameter. Bundle the branches and place at your curbside. Large piles of unbundled debris WILL NOT be picked up.
- Leaves and debris placed in bins or paper yard waste bags is preferred. Please avoid using plastic bags - they damage the mulching machinery used at the Landfill.
- Large debris may be dropped off at the County Landfill located at 1930 E. Osceola Road in Geneva. It’s open seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Other counties have also shared information about what to do with yard waste from Hurricane Helene. You can find the guidance for where you live by clicking here.
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