TAMPA, Florida — City officials say it could take up to 60 days before all the debris left behind by Hurricane Ian can be cleared.
According to Larry Washington, the City of Tampa’s solid waste director, the best way to keep debris by the curb is one pile of branches and plant debris, and sticks, leaves, and other items packed in the trash. It is to divide into separate piles of smaller items. bag.
“The key is to efficiently and safely pick up the pile and segregate it so that the yard waste team can pick up the black bags,” Washington said.
It is important to keep all shingles, siding, boards and ruined furniture away from the pile of debris. Mixed piles can be skipped by the crew.
“We take all the plant storm debris, mulch it, and then give it to a local company for reuse,” Washington explained.
If chemicals or paint get into the branches, they cannot be mulched or recycled.
Thirty different Tampa crews work 12 hours a day, seven days a week to clean up the debris.
They are starting with the hardest-hit areas such as South Tampa and East Tampa before moving on to less affected areas.
