The date marks 66 days since the work began
Slightly more than two months after Hurricane Milton made landfall on Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane on Oct. 9, as the National Hurricane Center has reported, the storm debris collections for City of Sarasota residents are nearly complete, city staff reported on Dec. 17.
With the debris collection scheduled to conclude on Friday, Dec. 20, a news release says, the city’s contractors had “collected 318,404 cubic yards, or 445,766 tons, of storm debris,” as of Dec. 17. “That’s nearly three times the total debris collected following Hurricane Ian, and more than five times the amount removed after Hurricane Irma,” the release adds.
“Dec. 20 marks 66 days since collection began, well within the 90-day maximum required by FEMA [Federal Emergency Management Agency] for full reimbursement of storm debris collection expenses,” the release points out.
“I can’t overstate how amazing it is that we’re concluding debris collection from this summer’s storms before the end of the year,” said Todd Kucharski, general manager of the city’s Public Works Department, in the release. “The city was prepared and had storm debris collection contractors on standby to begin cleanup immediately following Hurricanes Helene and Milton; this milestone would not have been possible without their commitment to staying in Sarasota until debris removal is complete,” Kucharski added in the release. “Our city looks completely different than it did 60 days ago thanks to their dedication.”
The release emphasizes that, with crews finalizing plans for the last passes to collect storm debris, additional materials should not be placed curbside. City staff is advising residents that they will have to shoulder the expense of special pickups to collect any debris placed curbside after the final passes.
City staff also is reminding residents “that storm debris in plastic bags and comingled debris will not be collected. Regular yard waste preparation rules should be followed for non-storm-related vegetative waste.”
The release further notes that residents will have to arrange for special pickup plans for plastic-bagged storm debris or improperly prepared yard waste. Alternatively, the release says, these items can be disposed of at the Sarasota County Landfill, which stands at 4000 Knights Trail Road in Nokomis.
For more information about waste collection or to arrange for special pickups, contact the Solid Waste Division at 941-263-6170.