Safe and Environmentally Friendly Debris Cleanup Procedures

If your home is damaged and your yard littered with debris after a disaster, there are ways to ensure that cleanup is safe and environmentally friendly.

Check with your local government for cleanup procedures before disposing of debris.

You can expedite cleanup by separating debris:

• Yard debris like branches and downed trees
• Building debris like fences, roof materials, screens, windows, carpets, etc.)
• Regular garbage and trash

Put debris at your curbside, away from fire hydrants, trees, power lines, mailboxes, and valves or other items that could be damaged or make collection difficult.

How to clear debris in your yard

Debris pick-up varies by location. Check for news about collection schedules from your local government and service providers.

• Cut fallen tree limbs into sections of 4 feet or less (if you have experience and can do so safely). Many injuries happen post-disaster due to stress, fatigue, or strenuous and dangerous activities that are unfamiliar like chainsaw operation.
• Stack material neatly at the curbside separated from garbage.
• Put smaller or loose items (limbs, leaves, etc.) into sealed containers like garbage cans or clear plastic bags.
• Bundle piles of small branches and secure them with twine. Containers or bundles should weigh 50 pounds or less.

How to clear building debris or contents

Besides vegetative debris, there may be piles of broken building materials after a disaster, including roof tiles, broken framework, torn screens (building debris), and damaged furniture or carpets (building contents).

• Keep building debris and building contents separate from vegetative material and regular garbage.
• Check for special requirements like designated disposal sites other than curbside.

How to clear regular garbage and trash

Dispose of food that has come into direct contact with floodwaters or wildfire. If canned or other packaged foods or drinks appear dented or damaged, don’t risk it: throw it all away. See more information about which food items to keep and which food items to toss.

Attempting to dry out the contents of your home can take several weeks, and if the humidity remains high, microorganisms may continue to grow. If the house and its contents are not properly dried out and you notice musty odors, consider throwing out the wet materials.

Safety tips for debris cleanup

• Make sure debris doesn’t block storm drains, fire hydrants, the right-of-way, or pedestrian traffic.
• Keep children away from debris piles. They can be full of broken glass, nails, jagged wood, and other sharp items, as well as rodents, bugs, or other animals.
• Watch children carefully around heavy equipment and debris removal operations. Equipment operators may not easily see small children.
• Move your vehicles away from debris piles to make it easier for equipment operators to pick up the materials and reduce the possibility of damage.
• Drive carefully when behind trucks loaded with debris. Materials can fly out, causing an accident or driving hazard, so maintain a safe distance.
• Keep open flames, cigarettes, or other ignition sources away from debris piles as they may contain flammable materials.