Garbage and debris collection following Irma

Jacksonville, FL — As you start deal with cleaning up the damage done by Irma, we’re getting a better idea of what trash and debris pick-up will look like on the First Coast. Across the region, be sure to separate your garbage and debris, and stack it appropriately. Full guidance can be found in the diagrams below.

Jacksonville’s routine waste collection is delayed by one day for the week of September 10th. Collections normally scheduled for Monday, September 11th, were picked up Tuesday, September 12th.

For storm debris, there are two options. You can prepare debris for collection with your normal weekly yard waste, by putting up to five cubic yards- about 30 garbage bags- in bags or containers. As a second option, you can pile debris on the curb, leaving at least three feet of space from utility boxes, poles, mailboxes, fire hydrants, and other obstacles, and avoiding placing piles under trees. Crews will be working sunrise to sunset, seven days a week, to use large mechanical arms to scoop up this debris. There will be multiple passes made by the clearing crews, but there is no specific schedule for when specific neighborhoods will be addressed. Haulers will begin collecting storm debris Monday, September 25th.

For any hazardous waste, that must be taken to the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 2675 Commonwealth Blvd.

The City of Jacksonville says you can not burn debris and waste.

Atlantic Beach garbage and recycling pickup has been pushed back by one day. They expect to finalize their debris removal plan Friday, to allow storm debris collection to begin Monday, September 18. You’re asked to put your debris near the street, but not under trees, near utility lines, mailboxes, utility poles, fire hydrants, or meters. You should not bag your leaves., instead put it in three distinct piles- yard debris, damaged property, and appliances. Cut tree limbs so they are no longer than ten feet.

Jacksonville Beach’s regular garbage, recycling, and standard bulky items pickup has resumed normal pickup. No yard waste will be picked up this week. Storm-related debris collection started Monday, September 18th, and a city-wide plan is being developed.

Neptune Beach says yard debris pickup has started, and will take place on normally scheduled days. They’re asking you to place the debris curbside, in un-bagged piles.

In Clay County, curbside garbage service resumed Thursday, September 14th, and will continue on a normal schedule. The Rosemary Hill Solid Waste Management Facility opened for normal hours- 7:30AM through 5:30AM- Wednesday, September 13th.

Beginning Saturday, September 16th, yard waste that meets Advanced Disposal service standards will be picked up, including leaves, grass clippings, and small yard debris bagged in a 40-gallon or smaller can or heavy-duty plastic trash bag, not exceeding 50 pounds. Stumps, trees, and limbs may not exceed four feet in length or 50 pounds in weight, for a total of no more than five cubic yards.

You can drop off Irma-related residential vegetative debris at the back parking area of the Clay County Fairgrounds from 7:30AM through 5:30PM. You should use the entrance off Spring Bank Road. This dropoff site is temporary, to ease congestion at landfill sites. County disaster debris contractors have arrived and are starting to do sweeps around the county. There will be multiple passes to pick up debris.

St. Johns County is starting to catch up with solid waste services. Pickup for standard yard debris is suspended, set to resume Monday, September 18th. The recycling collection scheduled picked back up on Friday, September 15th.

On Wednesday, September 13th, household waste pickup took place for anyone who’s typical pickup was supposed to be Monday, September 11th, and Tuesday, September 12th. On Thursday, September 14th, pickup took place for those normally scheduled for Wednesday, September 13th, and Thursday, September 14th. The standard schedule is back in effect, as of Friday, September 15th.

Beginning Monday, September 18th, vegetative storm debris pickup will start. They anticipate a construction and demolition debris plan to be released within the next two weeks.  Sand and full sandbags will not be collected with regular garbage or yard debris. Instead, you’re encouraged to keep a hold of the sandbags for future use, or use the sand for general fill, like on lawns and landscape beds.

If you need more information about the Irma debris collection program, you can call 904824-5550.

Nassau County Emergency Management says normal garbage and recycling operations resume Wednesday, September 13th. Storm debris pickup started Monday, September 18th. You’re asked to put yard debris and construction and demolition debris unbagged, on the county right of way. The Nassau County Solid Waste Recycling Center will reopen Thursday, September 14th. They will accept household items and recycling items.

Fernandina Beach officials say storm debris pickup will begin on Monday. You’re asked to place debris between your home and the street, because sure not to place the debris in the road or in the way of storm drains.

Yard debris burning is allowed in Nassau County, with the exception of Fernandina Beach. You should only burn clean, dry wood, and not household garbage, construction debris, or treated lumber. Burning is allowed to start after 9AM, but all flames must be completely extinguished one hour before sunset. You can get more information from the Florida Forest Service at 904-266-8351.

In Baker County, if you have a safe way of transporting your storm debris, you can drop it off at the Baker County Limb Debris Site at 3685 City Dump Road in Macclenny.

WOKV will continue to update as we learn more from various emergency management departments about waste and debris collection.