Waste Management issues storm debris tips before hurricane season

Houston-based Waste Management’s Florida branch released tips for residents on how to properly handle their waste before a storm and how to properly prepare storm debris for curbside pickup after one passes for the upcoming hurricane season.

“Following a powerful hurricane, one of the most essential needs for a community to begin recovery is the reliable return of its most vital services,” says Dawn McCormick, community affairs director for Waste Management of Florida. “That’s why we spend a lot of time in the weeks and months prior to the start of hurricane season focusing within our company on annual hurricane preparation and recovery planning.”
The company also issues public advisories to residents and businesses about storm preparation. This information includes:

Before the storm secure garbage and recycling containers. Place empty containers in a secure location away from open spaces; stop all yard maintenance and tree trimming activities when there is a named storm with a predicted Florida landfall; and bundle and tie down all loose trash such as tree limbs, wood planks or building and roof tiles. Place these materials in a location where debris cannot become hazardous to homes and automobiles in high winds. Waste Management will continue to collect household garbage and recycling materials in the neighborhoods it serves according to designated schedules until a hurricane warning is issued.

After the storm separate normal household garbage such as food refuse, diapers and regular household waste from storm debris caused by high winds, hail and rain. Storm debris including tree limbs, carpet and padding, aluminum and wood fencing and household appliances should be placed curbside in a separate pile or piles.

Separating normal household waste from storm debris will allow Waste Management employees to collect your household garbage more quickly and safely, and help prevent odors and safety hazards that would be created by mixing your household garbage with storm debris. The separation is also necessary to allow Waste Management to collect normal household waste and to permit other firms to collect storm debris in accordance with arrangements made by local municipalities and/or the county with contractors independent from Waste Management

Waste Management will restart curbside garbage and recycling collection of normal household waste immediately on the streets that are passable. The company will expand its routes to additional areas as more streets become clear of debris and other impediments.

“After a significant storm blows through a community, there are few more welcome signs of things getting back to normal than seeing our people doing their jobs,” says McCormick. “Once public safety is restored, the rapid recovery of a town or city begins with the startup of routine services. While contractors from other companies are contracted to pick up storm debris, we focus on restoring regular household collection from the curbside.”

Also available in Waste Management’s mix of hurricane preparedness and recovery services is the Bagster bag. Bagster can be used when there is a need to discard more debris than can fit in a typical bin or garbage receptacle, but not enough to require a dumpster. Available at local home improvement stores, Bagster bags are designed to hold 3,300 pounds of severe storm and hurricane debris items, such as tree stumps, large tree limbs, roofing shingles, full sheets of plywood and sheetrock.

“Our value to a community is not always apparent unless collection stops,” says McCormick. “Doing everything we can to prepare before and return to service after a crisis, is what being a good community partner is all about.”