ORLANDO, Fla. – As Central Floridians clean up from Hurricane Milton, officials have started to announce plans on how residents can properly dispose of their yard waste and construction debris.
While specific pickup schedules are not available for most counties, residents can start preparing their debris piles or learn how to haul it to the landfill themselves with the information below.
The list will be updated ad more information becomes available.
[RELATED: Where Milton ranks among strongest Atlantic hurricanes | Strongest winds so far in Central Florida from Hurricane Milton | Download the FREE News 6 hurricane app]
BREVARD COUNTY
As you begin cleaning up your vegetative debris from Hurricane Milton, please do not:
- Bag your material
- Place it near trees or mailboxes
- Place piles over water meters or storm drains
- Pile debris under overhead wires
In addition, regular waste management operations have resumed.
FLAGLER COUNTY
To allow adequate time for residents and contractors to complete post-storm clearing and cleanup efforts, Flagler County has tentatively coordinated dedicated post-debris pickup for disposal beginning Monday, Oct. 21.
WastePro plans to resume commercial and roll-off pickup on Monday, Oct. 14, and residents may utilize this for early debris removal as well. Please ensure that household garbage is adequately separated from debris:
- Household bagged garbage
- Vegetative (tree branches, lawn clippings, logs, plants)
- Appliances (refrigerator, washer, dryer, air conditioner, stove, water heater)
- Electronics (TV, computer, stereo, phone)
- Building materials (drywall, lumber, carpet, plumbing, furniture)
- Hazardous materials (oil, battery, pesticide, paint, cleaning supplies, compressed gas)
Please avoid blocking ditches and swales to prevent flooding and support stormwater drainage. When placing curbside, do not block driveways, roadways, mailboxes, or utility poles.
Residents within the incorporated areas should contact their city’s solid waste department for information about their collection schedules.
LAKE COUNTY
Unincorporated curbside collection: Debris contractors are en route, and we hope for them to arrive in Lake County by early next week. Bulk pickup will be paused to allow our haulers to focus on removing vegetative debris (branches, tree limbs, etc.) When setting out debris, please leave enough room for garbage/recycling carts to be picked up, and remember:
• Keep storm debris separate from (normal) yard waste
• Put grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs in the yard waste pile (use proper biodegradable bags/containers)
• Do not use trash/recycling carts for yard waste
ORANGE COUNTY
“I plan to just move everything over by the road, cutting it up, and let the state pick it up,” David Buckhan said.
Buckhan has been living in his home since 1979 near Apopka and is hoping to have his debris picked up by Wednesday.
Orange County residents can also dispose of vegetative yard waste for free at these drop-off sites:
- Conway Water Treatment Plant, 3590 Manatee Street, Orlando
- Harrell Road, 8503 Trevarthon Road, Orlando
- Zellwood Maintenance Unit, 3500 Golden Gem Road, Apopka
Residents should be prepared to provide their driver’s license.
No information was released about bulk, curbside pickup as of this writing.
WINTER PARK
- Waste Pro completed half of their route Oct. 12 and will continue where they left off to pick up properly bagged, containerized and bundled debris (not to exceed 50 lbs.) on the following days: Wednesday, Oct. 16 Saturday, Oct. 19
- Up to 15 bags/bundles/containers (3 cubic yards) of properly prepared yard debris will be picked up per household.
- If you have more than 3 cubic yards of properly prepared debris, it may not be picked up all at once in order to service as many customers as possible.
- Depending on the amount of debris and the length of time it takes for disposal at the landfill, if crews are unable to finish their scheduled routes, they will begin picking up where they left off on the next scheduled pick-up day.
- Please use the proper lawn or leaf bags for disposal.
DIY SITES – DUMP YOUR OWN – NEW LOCATIONS ADDED
- Winter Park location (bags only): City residents can bring a max. of 15 debris bags (not to exceed 50 lbs. each) to the City Operations compound located at 1409 Howell Branch Road on the following days between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Friday, Oct.18 Saturday, Oct. 19 Sunday, Oct. 20 No contractors or commercial landscapers. City residents only. Please bring proof of City of Winter Park residency: driver’s license, valid ID or utility bill statement.
- Orange County locations (loose vegetative debris only): Orange County residents can use the following designated drop-off sites for non-commercial yard waste, including leaves, branches and other natural debris: Mondays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Conway Water Treatment Plant 3590 Manatee Street, Orlando, FL 32822 Harrell Road 8503 Trevarthon Road, Orlando, FL 32817 Zellwood Maintenance Unit 3500 Golden Gem Road, Apopka, FL 32712 The sites will accept only loose vegetative debris - no bags or containers. Large household appliances and other household items will not be accepted. Contractors, lawn care or commercial companies are prohibited from using these drop-off sites. Please bring proof of Orange County residency: driver’s license, valid ID or utility bill statement.
LOOSE & LARGE TREE DEBRIS PILES
- Any debris that cannot be cut to fit in a bag or container, such as large vegetative debris, please pile separately along the curb for crews to pick up.
- Collection and removal of loose and large tree debris piles require contractors with special equipment.
- Because most contract debris crews are assisting with Hurricane Helene and harder hit areas of Hurricane Milton, recovery resources are extremely limited.
- Due to limited resources, loose piles will take much longer to pick up.
- DO NOT place debris near or on trees, poles, hydrants, meters or other structures.
- DO NOT place debris in the street or block storm drains, manhole covers or gutters.
- No construction debris will be collected.
OSCEOLA COUNTY
As we continue the cleanup from #HurricaneMilton, here are 3 easy ways to get rid of debris:
- Routine Collection Bundle your yard waste (up to 10 bags, bundles, or large items) and place it curbside on your usual collection day.
- Drop-off Site For larger debris, visit our temporary citizen yard waste site in St. Cloud. It’s on Canoe Creek Road across from Bramblewood Drive and Kanuga Village. This is for Osceola County residents ONLY (ID required). Open from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., every day from now through Oct. 20, free of charge!
- Curbside Contractor Pickup If you have large debris but can’t make it to the drop-off site, set it aside separately at the curb. Our contractor will begin pickups this week.
If you’re in need of help with storm debris removal, Crisis Cleanup is here to assist. Volunteers are available to help with services such as tarping, tree removal, muckouts, and more.
To request assistance, please call the Crisis Cleanup Hotline at 844-965-1386. This service is free and available until Friday, Oct. 25. Please be aware that while this is the first step toward receiving help, assistance is not guaranteed due to high demand.
Kissimmee
The city of Kissimmee is set to commence residential curbside removal of hurricane debris on Thursday, Oct. 17. This effort follows thorough preliminary assessments and the prioritization of debris collection throughout the area.
To facilitate an efficient cleanup process, debris collection will be organized by designated zones, with Zones 1, 16, and 20 being the first three zones scheduled for collection on Thursday.
The collection process can be time consuming and residents should know that once the first pass is completed in the first three zones, crews will them move into the next zones scheduled for pickup. Residents are encouraged to visit the city’s Debris Collection Zone Map at kissimmee.gov/debris for estimated collection dates and to identify their specific zone.
Each zone will received two passes for debris collection. The city advises residents to adhere to the following guidelines for debris placement:
- Separate tree debris from construction debris
- Place debris close to the curb but not in the road
- Do not mix garbage or recycling materials in debris piles
- Do not bag debris
- Do not place debris near mailboxes or fire hydrants
For residents wanting a self-service option, a free drop-off location for residential yard debris from Hurricane Milton is available, thanks to the Osceola County and the City of St. Cloud. Located on Canoe Creek Road, across from Bramblewood Drive and Kanuga Village, this service is open exclusively to Osceola County residents (valid ID required) from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 20. Please note that only residential yard debris will be accepted—no other types of waste is permitted.
The City remains dedicated to supporting residents throughout this recovery process. For additional information on the City’s efforts after Hurricane Milton, visit kissimmee.gov/milton.
POLK COUNTY
Debris hauling is set to begin on Monday, Oct. 14, giving all residents time to get residential hurricane debris to the curb before trucks are in neighborhoods. Residents should not place debris in roadways or close to permanent objects like trees, mailboxes or under power lines. Large claw trucks cannot move through narrow roads or navigate around other objects.
The county’s initial focus will be in the most heavily damaged areas that are unaffected by flooding. There will be a debris removal progress website, beginning next week, to view progress.
Debris haulers will sweep the entire county, so residents do not have to call and report or request service; however, residents may call the Residential Hurricane Milton Debris Hotline at (833) 843-1920 with questions.
To ensure debris is picked up at the curb, residents should separate debris by the following categories:
- Vegetative Debris (unbagged leaves, logs, plants and tree branches)
- Construction and demolition debris (building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber, mattress, plumbing, etc.)
- Appliances and white goods (A/C units, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, etc.)
- Electronics (televisions, computers, etc.)
- Household hazardous waste (cleaning supplies, batteries, paints, pesticides, etc.)
For residents who wish to self-haul and drop off their debris the following options are available:
The following location will accept all hurricane-related debris at no cost during regular operation hours: Monday to Friday: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Polk County North Central Transfer Station located at 3131 K-Ville Ave, Auburndale
The following yard waste/vegetative debris only drop-off sites will be open Monday through Sunday, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning, Sunday, Oct. 13.
- Polk County Strickland Avenue located at 5901 Strickland Ave., Lakeland
- Polk County Marigold located at 9500 Marigold Ave., Poinciana
The county’s intent is to have all Hurricane Milton debris removed by Nov. 24, 2024.
SEMINOLE COUNTY
Residents preparing their curbside debris piles are encouraged to exercise caution when using chainsaws and to follow these important safety tips.
Those who need assistance or have a disability, can call the Seminole County Citizen Information Line to register to receive volunteer aid by dialing 407-665-0000. Find more information by visiting here.
No dates have been released on when debris piles will be picked up in the county, but officials ask residents to prepare your curbside debris by Monday, Oct. 21 at the latest.
Curbside guidelines are:
- Please separate vegetative disaster debris (branches, tree trunks, limbs, etc.) and construction and demolition disaster debris (building materials, large items) into two distinct piles at the curb. These should be items that were lost as a result of the hurricane.
- Ensure that the piles are kept off streets, sidewalks, and storm drains, and are positioned away from fire hydrants, mailboxes, or other structures.
- If possible, cut branches and logs into 4-foot sections.
- Try and combine your pile with your neighbor’s to create larger piles and expedite collection.
- Avoid using plastic bags for vegetative debris. Pile your debris. You may also place in bins, paper bags, or bundles.
If you prefer, you may bring it to the Seminole County landfill located at 1930 East Osceola Road in Geneva. Unincorporated Seminole County residents may drop off at no charge.
VOLUSIA COUNTY
Volusia County officials said they are committed to working with their debris haulers to conduct the fastest and most efficient Hurricane Milton debris removal program possible
In preparation, residents who reside in unincorporated areas and those on county-maintained roads should bring storm debris to the public right of way, the area that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole, or easement. Residents should not place debris on the road as it obstructs traffic, hinders cleanup and power restoration efforts, and makes it difficult for emergency vehicles to pass. Keep debris away from drainage ditches, inlets, mailboxes, and power lines if possible. Do not cover storm drains, and never block fire hydrants.
The debris should be separated into separate piles for vegetative debris (leaves, branches, and cut trees), construction and demolition debris (building materials, carpet, furniture, fences, drywall), and appliances and white goods (refrigerators, dishwashers, washing machines, stoves). Do not place vegetative debris in plastic yard waste bags. The storm debris removal contractor will leave bagged debris for weekly residential yard waste collection since the storm debris contractor cannot dispose of plastic bags. Normal collection rules will apply to those with a small amount of yard debris. Mixed debris piles, electronics, and household hazardous waste will not be collected. Residents can dispose of them free of charge at the Tomoka Landfill or West Volusia Transfer Station.
Residents can also haul their own debris to the landfill. Volusia County has opened the Tomoka Landfill located at 1990 Tomoka Farms Road in Port Orange from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and the West Volusia Transfer Station located at 3151 East New York Ave. in DeLand from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 12, and Oct. 13.
Additionally, Volusia County is coordinating a mass debris removal operation for households in unincorporated areas, as well as those along County-maintained roads, which will begin on Friday, Oct. 18.