FEMA helps city with storm cleanup efforts

Irma battered Fort Lauderdale for a weekend, but clearing the debris left in her wake could take two months.

“We know the piles are there, and we’re on our way,” said Melissa Doyle, program manager for Solid Waste and Recycling.

Officials estimate more than 1 million cubic yards of storm-generated waste has accumulated on local properties. That’s the equivalent of about 30 full bathtubs in every yard.

The city began cleanup efforts immediately; still, given the breadth of the storm 60 days is a reasonable timeframe, said Dr. Nancy J. Gassman, Fort Lauderdale Assistant Public Works Director of Sustainability.

During the cleanup period, collection trucks will make three passes through Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods. That gives folks multiple opportunities for pickup.

Residents can speed the effort by sorting storm debris. For example, fencing panels thrown on top of tree branches will not be picked up.

“That’s really important because that’s what FEMA requires,” Gassman said. The — Melissa Doyle, Solid Waste and Recycling program manager

Federal Emergency Management Agency will reimburse the city’s cleanup costs for hurricane-related rubbish only.

“That takes the burden off the taxpayers and maximizes every tax dollar we receive,” Doyle explained.

Gassman gave a rundown of the types of trash that must be separted for FEMA collection. Normal household garbage is not included. It goes in the black carts as usual.

Vegetative debris is trees, stumps, branches, leaves, anything that grows, she said. However, lawn bags won’t be picked up.

“The best thing to do is simply empty bags of leaves onto the vegetative pile,” Gassman said.

Construction and demolition debris is generally “anything you use to build,” she said.

Appliances and white goods, which inHurricane

cludes refrigerators and air conditioners, could qualify with damage from rain, flooding or a power surge.

Electronic waste is “anything with a plug,” Gassman said.

Finally, hazardous or should not be placed out.

“That’s a whole separate category and we have special instructions for that,” she said. Guidelines and updates are found on www.FortLauderdale.gov.

“We’re looking for a strong collaboration with our neighbors to make sure the city recovers as quickly as possible,” Doyle said. “Our contractors are working seven days a week, literally sun up to sundown to make sure we’re getting out there and collecting these piles as quickly as we can.”

hwolt@sun-sentinel.com chemical waste