As Central Floridians clean up from Hurricane Milton, officials have started to announce plans on how residents can properly dispose of their yard waste and construction debris.
While specific pickup schedules are not available for most counties, residents can start preparing their debris piles or learn how to haul it to the landfill themselves with the information below.
The list will be updated ad more information becomes avaibale.
[RELATED: Where Milton ranks among strongest Atlantic hurricanes | Strongest winds so far in Central Florida from Hurricane Milton | Download the FREE News 6 hurricane app]
BREVARD COUNTY
As you begin cleaning up your vegetative debris from Hurricane Milton, please do not:
- Bag your material
- Place it near trees or mailboxes
- Place piles over water meters or storm drains
- Pile debris under overhead wires
In addition, regular waste management operations have resumed.
FLAGLER COUNTY
To allow adequate time for residents and contractors to complete post-storm clearing and cleanup efforts, Flagler County has tentatively coordinated dedicated post-debris pickup for disposal beginning Monday, Oct. 21.
WastePro plans to resume commercial and roll-off pickup on Monday, Oct. 14, and residents may utilize this for early debris removal as well. Please ensure that household garbage is adequately separated from debris:
- Household bagged garbage
- Vegetative (tree branches, lawn clippings, logs, plants)
- Appliances (refrigerator, washer, dryer, air conditioner, stove, water heater)
- Electronics (TV, computer, stereo, phone)
- Building materials (drywall, lumber, carpet, plumbing, furniture)
- Hazardous materials (oil, battery, pesticide, paint, cleaning supplies, compressed gas)
Please avoid blocking ditches and swales to prevent flooding and support stormwater drainage. When placing curbside, do not block driveways, roadways, mailboxes, or utility poles.
Residents within the incorporated areas should contact their city’s solid waste department for information about their collection schedules.
LAKE COUNTY
Unincorporated curbside collection: Debris contractors are en route, and we hope for them to arrive in Lake County by early next week. Bulk pickup will be paused to allow our haulers to focus on removing vegetative debris (branches, tree limbs, etc.) When setting out debris, please leave enough room for garbage/recycling carts to be picked up, and remember:
• Keep storm debris separate from (normal) yard waste
• Put grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs in the yard waste pile (use proper biodegradable bags/containers)
• Do not use trash/recycling carts for yard waste
ORANGE COUNTY
Orange County residents can dispose of vegetative yard waste for free Oct. 12-13 at the Orange County Landfill and transfer stations located at:
- Landfill: Saturday - Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Transfer Stations: Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Residents should be prepared to provide their driver’s license
No information was released about bulk, curbside pickup as of this writing.
POLK COUNTY
Debris hauling is set to begin on Monday, Oct. 14, giving all residents time to get residential hurricane debris to the curb before trucks are in neighborhoods. Residents should not place debris in roadways or close to permanent objects like trees, mailboxes or under power lines. Large claw trucks cannot move through narrow roads or navigate around other objects.
The county’s initial focus will be in the most heavily damaged areas that are unaffected by flooding. There will be a debris removal progress website, beginning next week, to view progress.
Debris haulers will sweep the entire county, so residents do not have to call and report or request service; however, residents may call the Residential Hurricane Milton Debris Hotline at (833) 843-1920 with questions.
To ensure debris is picked up at the curb, residents should separate debris by the following categories:
- Vegetative Debris (unbagged leaves, logs, plants and tree branches)
- Construction and demolition debris (building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, mattress, plumbing, etc.)
- Appliances and white goods (A/C units, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.)
- Electronics (televisions, computers, etc.)
- Household hazardous waste (cleaning supplies, batteries, paints, pesticides, etc.)
For residents who wish to self-haul and drop off their debris the following options are available:
The following location will accept all hurricane-related debris at no cost during regular operation hours: Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Polk County North Central Transfer Station located at 3131 K-Ville Ave, Auburndale
The following yard waste/vegetative debris only drop-off sites will be open Monday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning, Sunday, Oct. 13.
- Polk County Strickland Avenue located at 5901 Strickland Ave., Lakeland
- Polk County Marigold located at 9500 Marigold Ave., Poinciana
The county’s intent is to have all Hurricane Milton debris removed by Nov. 24, 2024.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
Residents preparing their curbside debris piles are encouraged to exercise caution when using chainsaws and to follow these important safety tips.
Those who need assistance or have a disability, can call the Seminole County Citizen Information Line to register to receive volunteer aid by dialing 407-665-0000. Find more information by visiting here.
No dates have been released on when debris piles will be picked up in the county, but officials ask residents to prepare your curbside debris by Monday, Oct. 21 at the latest.
Curbside guidelines are:
- Please separate vegetative disaster debris (branches, tree trunks, limbs, etc.) and construction and demolition disaster debris (building materials, large items) into two distinct piles at the curb. These should be items that were lost as a result of the hurricane.
- Ensure that the piles are kept off streets, sidewalks, and storm drains, and are positioned away from fire hydrants, mailboxes, or other structures.
- If possible, cut branches and logs into 4-foot sections.
- Try and combine your pile with your neighbor’s to create larger piles and expedite collection.
- Avoid using plastic bags for vegetative debris. Pile your debris. You may also place in bins, paper bags, or bundles.
If you prefer, you may bring it to the Seminole County landfill located at 1930 East Osceola Road in Geneva. Unincorporated Seminole County residents may drop off at no charge.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Volusia County officials said they are committed to working with their debris haulers to conduct the fastest and most efficient Hurricane Milton debris removal program possible
In preparation, residents who reside in unincorporated areas and those on county-maintained roads should bring storm debris to the public right of way, the area that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole, or easement. Residents should not place debris on the road as it obstructs traffic, hinders cleanup and power restoration efforts, and makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to pass. Keep debris away from drainage ditches, inlets, mailboxes, and power lines if possible. Do not cover storm drains, and never block fire hydrants.
The debris should be separated into separate piles for vegetative debris (leaves, branches, and cut trees), construction and demolition debris (building materials, carpet, furniture, fences, drywall), and appliances and white goods (refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, stoves). Do not place vegetative debris in plastic yard waste bags. The storm debris removal contractor will leave bagged debris for weekly residential yard waste collection since the storm debris contractor cannot dispose of plastic bags. Normal collection rules will apply to those with a small amount of yard debris. Mixed debris piles, electronics, and household hazardous waste will not be collected. Residents can dispose of them free of charge at the Tomoka Landfill or West Volusia Transfer Station.
Residents can also haul their own debris to the landfill. Volusia County has opened the Tomoka Landfill located at 1990 Tomoka Farms Road in Port Orange from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the West Volusia Transfer Station located at 3151 East New York Ave. in DeLand from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 12, and Oct. 13.
Additionally, Volusia County is coordinating a mass debris removal operation for households in unincorporated areas, as well as those along County-maintained roads, which will begin on Friday, Oct. 18.