Cities announce plans for Tropical Storm Ian debris cleanup

Sheldon Gardner, The Daytona Beach News-Journal
·6 min read
A graphic shows how people in unincorporated areas of Volusia County (outside of cities) should separate and place storm debris for a contractor to pick up starting on Wednesday.
A graphic shows how people in unincorporated areas of Volusia County (outside of cities) should separate and place storm debris for a contractor to pick up starting on Wednesday.

Volusia County launched Tropical Storm Ian storm-debris collection on Wednesday, and cities across the county have also started collecting debris or have announced plans to do so.

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A street sign and other debris litter South Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.
A street sign and other debris litter South Atlantic Avenue in Daytona Beach Shores on Friday, Sept. 30, 2022.

Here's a look at storm-debris collection plans across the county:

  • In the city of Daytona Beach, the city will begin collecting storm debris through a private company on Monday. The city will first collect vegetative debris and then construction and demolition debris, followed by appliances. People should separate debris into three piles for vegetation, construction and demolition debris, and appliances. Vegetation should not be bagged. Electronics and household hazardous waste won't be picked up but can be taken for free to the Tomoka Landfill. For updates go to codb.us.

  • In the city of Daytona Beach Shores, storm debris will be collected on Saturday and Oct. 15. The city will schedule more pickups if needed.  Debris should be separated into vegetative and construction debris and placed next to the road away from power lines, tree limbs or other obstructions.

  • In the city of DeBary, storm-debris pickup is scheduled to begin at 7 a.m. on Monday to collect vegetation, including branches, tree trunks and tree limbs. Residents should place the debris on the easements in front of their houses but not on the road. Vegetative debris should not be bagged or mixed with any other items. 

  • In the city of DeLand, storm-debris collection will begin Monday through a contractor. Separate vegetative debris from other debris. Don't bag storm debris. Put the debris by the curb but not in the road.

A graphic from the city of DeLand shows how officials there would like storm debris to be collected.
A graphic from the city of DeLand shows how officials there would like storm debris to be collected.

  • In the city of Deltona, debris hauler Ceres will begin removing storm debris by the end of this week or early next week.  People should keep yard debris separate from construction and demolition debris and place it curbside away from poles, trees or other structures. Normal household garbage and yard waste should not be combined with storm debris. All debris types should be separated. Don't obstruct roads.

This graphic from the city of Deltona shows how officials there would like storm debris to be handled.
This graphic from the city of Deltona shows how officials there would like storm debris to be handled.

  • In the city of Edgewater, officials are advising that FEMA requires all vegetative debris to be in piles and not bagged. Still, the city crews will collect bagged and contained vegetation this week only. Officials are asking people to place unbagged vegetation from the storm for pickup starting Friday; the vegetative debris should be kept separate from other storm garbage.

Edgewater officials used this graphic from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to show how they would like storm debris to be handled.
Edgewater officials used this graphic from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to show how they would like storm debris to be handled.

  • The city of Holly Hill plans to start collecting storm debris next week through a contractor, focusing first on Center Avenue, Walker and Flomich streets. Residents and businesses should separate their tree limbs, leaves and other vegetative debris from construction, white goods and any other storm debris. Keeping vegetation separated will speed up debris collection. Keep bagged yard waste separate from storm debris vegetation.

  • In the city of Lake Helen, crews are removing vegetative storm debris. People should place unbagged vegetative storm debris for pickup. People who need appliances and construction or demolition debris removed should call Waste Pro, said Lee Evett, city administrator. The number is 386-788-8890. Vegetation, construction debris and appliances should be kept separate.

  • In the Town of Pierson, crews are collecting unbagged vegetative storm debris and will continue to collect the debris throughout the month, said Carmen Spelorzi, town clerk. People need to dispose of their own appliances and chemicals at the West Volusia Transfer Station at 3151 E. New York Ave. in DeLand. Furniture and light construction debris can be taken to a Dumpster from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays and Fridays at County Road 3 and Hagstrom Road.

  • In New Smyrna Beach, the city planned to have claw trucks work all week long picking up bags of leaves. Waste Pro is expected to catch up on missed solid waste collection. Regularly scheduled solid waste pickup is expected to resume on Thursday. For updates call 386-402-7675 or go to cityofnsb.com.

  • In the city of Oak Hill, officials have secured a contractor for hauling storm debris and hope to begin collections on Monday, said Erin Anderson, administrative assistant to the city clerk and city manager.

  • In Orange City, contractors Gaston and Tetra Tech will handle storm debris collection from city maintained streets from Thursday through Oct. 26. A final pass will take place on Oct. 27. Storm debris should be kept separate from regular yard waste. People should put unbagged storm debris on the public right-of-way and not near a water meter vault, fire hydrant, mailbox, tree or above-ground utility.

  • In the city of Ormond Beach, storm-debris removal will begin Thursday. Regular yard waste pickup took place on Wednesday. For storm debris, residents should put vegetative debris, construction debris, appliances and electronics into separate piles. Hazardous waste won't be picked up. Only loose, not bagged, debris will be collected.

A flier from the city of Ormond Beach shows how city officials there want storm debris to be separated.
A flier from the city of Ormond Beach shows how city officials there want storm debris to be separated.

  • The Town of Ponce Inlet has secured a debris removal company and will be announcing plans soon, officials announced on Facebook this week. Waste Pro has resumed normal operations but will only pick up regular yard trash from cans and bags until storm debris pickup is finished.

  • The city of Port Orange announced Wednesday that storm-debris trucks have arrived. Cleanup is expected to start this week.

An image from the city of South Daytona shows how officials there would like storm debris to be handled.
An image from the city of South Daytona shows how officials there would like storm debris to be handled.

  • The city of South Daytona planned to begin storm-debris collections on Wednesday on city maintained streets. Another pass will be scheduled this month. People should not bag storm debris and should place it in the public right-of-way. Debris should not be placed "near a water meter vault, fire hydrant, mailbox, tree, or any other above ground utility." People should avoid blocking sidewalks or roads with debris.

Residents in Volusia County outside of cities should separate debris into three piles: one for vegetation, one for construction and demolition debris and one for appliances and white goods, according to a county news release. The piles should go in the public right of way, which is "the area that extends from the street to the sidewalk, ditch, utility pole or easement."

Don't bag vegetative debris. Unseparated piles won't be picked up. Storm debris shouldn't be mixed with household garbage.

Officials are following Federal Emergency Management Agency guidelines for storm-debris removal so they can get as much reimbursed from FEMA for the cost as possible.

Residents should avoid putting debris in the road to keep from blocking emergency vehicles and other traffic. People should also keep debris away from ditches, inlets, mailboxes and power lines if possible and avoid blocking storm drains and fire hydrants.

Also, electronics and hazardous waste won't be collected as part of storm-debris cleanup, but people can drop such items off for free at the Tomoka Landfill or the West Volusia Transfer station.

Contractors cleaning up debris for residents are responsible for taking it to a landfill.

For questions people can call 800-291-1205 or go to volusia.org/pin.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Tropical Storm Ian: Storm debris pickup plans announced across Volusia