ORLANDO, Fla. – Disaster debris removal crews rolled into some Central Florida neighborhoods Wednesday, nearly a week after Hurricane Milton made landfall.
According to Orange County Public Works, large storm debris collection began with an initial focus on vegetative debris.
“Our contractors that we have are beginning the mobilization process,” support manager Ralphetta Aker-McClary said. “Residents should bring to the curb, all of their green debris. Vegetative debris, tree limbs, tree parts and palm fronds.”
Orange County was left with a lot of downed trees and limbs from the storm, so debris removal is expected to take several weeks.
“I would venture to say a 60-to-90-day process is what we’re looking at,” Aker-McClary said. “We’ve got 2,300 miles of road that we are responsible for cleaning.
The county has asked residents to place debris on the curb at the edge of the property.
Vegetative debris also needs to be separated from any other type of debris, including fencing materials and other waste.
“It should be in its natural state there at the curb. No fencing in the mix of that. While it may be wood fencing, it is not vegetative and green,” Aker-McClary said.
The county has asked residents to place the debris piles away from trees, poles, fire hydrants, water meters or other structures.
The debris should also not block the road, sidewalk or storm drains.
Leaves and small debris must be bagged, canned, or bundles and placed for collection with normal yard waste pick-up on the assigned day.
For more information on Orange County’s Hurricane Milton cleanup efforts, visit ocfl.net/milton.