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Collier collects over 515 tons of yard waste from Tropical Storm Fay damage
Courtesy of AshBritt Environmental
Tropical Storm Fay-related yard waste is piled at the Collier County Landfill ready for processing. The yard waste will be ground into mulch then hauled to the Okeelanta Biomass Cogeneration Plant in Palm Beach County. There, the mulch is reused as an alternative fuel source to power the Okeelanta Sugar Mill and Florida Crystals Refinery.
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Since Aug. 28, the first day contractors began collecting the estimated 20,000 cubic yards of Tropical Storm Fay-related horticultural debris scattered across Collier County, nearly 5,329 cubic yards, or 515.54 tons, have been picked up, according to the county's Public Utilities Division.
Small trees and tree limbs, palm fronds, shrubs and other bits and pieces of yard waste brought down or uprooted by Tropical Storm Fay’s reported 60 mph winds are being collected and transported to a staging site at the Collier County Landfill. The yard waste is ground into mulch and then hauled to the Okeelanta Biomass Cogeneration Plant in Palm Beach County. There, the mulch is reused as an alternative fuel source to power the Okeelanta Sugar Mill and Florida Crystals Refinery.
As the debris clean up continues, residents of the unincorporated areas of Collier County and the cities of Marco Island and Everglades City who have large amounts of storm-related yard waste are asked to pile storm-related yard waste on the right of way in front of their property no later than Sunday.
Residents are asked to follow these specifications from the Public Utilities Division:
■ Debris in the county right of ways will be collected. Do not place debris piles near mailboxes, parked cars, fire hydrants, street lamps, utility boxes or other obstacles. The contractor will be using heavy lifting equipment to collect the yard waste. Placing piles too near a mailbox or other object could result in damage.
■ Debris will not be collected from private roads, commercial property or gated communities.
■ Horticulture debris must be separated from construction debris and bulky items.
■ Horticulture waste must be in piles and not in plastic bags, however, paper bags may be used.
■ Horticulture debris must be brown. Fresh, green horticulture debris has been deemed ineligible. FEMA monitors will inspect debris piles for compliance. If a debris pile is deemed ineligible (non-storm related), it will not be collected.
■ “Conforming” piles of debris will be collected by Waste Management Inc. and Choice Environmental Inc. on regularly scheduled yard waste collection days.
■ Residents who are unable to gather and pile storm-related debris in the right of way by Sunday because of standing flood water are advised to call the Solid Waste Management Department at 252-2508 so that those properties may be identified for storm-related yard waste collection at a later date.
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