Residents encouraged to be prepared
City of Sarasota residents are being asked to be ready by Monday, Nov. 25, when city’s storm debris contractors will begin their final pickup passes, the city announced on Nov. 21.
“We are encouraging residents to take time this weekend and prepare any remaining storm debris for collection,” said Todd Kucharski, general manager of the city’s Public Works Department, in a news release. “Debris must be hurricane-related to be collected,” he pointed out. “Residents will need to call the Solid Waste Division for special pickup of non-hurricane-related items,” Kucharski added.
“This final pass of storm debris pickup brings us one step closer to restoring our city and putting the 2024 hurricane season behind us,” he said in the release.
Since storm debris collection began 37 days ago, as of Nov. 21, city contractors had removed 291,310 cubic yards, or 407,834 tons, of debris citywide, the release points out. “This figure is more than eight times the amount of debris collected in the same amount of time following Hurricane Irma in 2017,” the release notes, with emphasis.
Approximately 73% of the total estimated hurricane debris to be collected inside the city limits — 8,743 truckloads — has been picked up, the release says.
When preparing storm debris, residents are asked to continue to observe the following guidelines, the release adds:
- Separate debris into piles — vegetative debris, construction/demolition debris, bulk items, and white goods (appliances).
- Do not place any storm debris in plastic bags.
- Ensure debris piles are at least 6 feet away from obstructions, including utility poles, mailboxes, backflow preventers, water meters, trees, and vehicles.
“Vegetative waste that is still green, recently cut or newly fallen (lawn clippings, leaves, sticks, and tree limbs) will not be collected by storm debris contractors and should instead be properly prepared as regular yard waste for pickup,” the release points out.
For special pickup of non-hurricane-related items, persons may call the Solid Waste Division at 941-263-6170.
“A storm debris collection map is available for city residents throughout the remainder of the debris pickup process,” the release notes.
Questions about storm debris pickup may be directed to the Storm Debris Hotline at 833-947-7739.