After the Storm: A Guide to Sorting Debris for Pickup

As hurricane season ramps up, Orange County Public Works wants to make sure residents are ready — not just with flashlights and water, but with a plan for what happens after the storm. When the winds die down and the skies clear, cleanup begins. And, one of the most important things you can do is know how to sort your storm debris.

After a storm, Orange County may activate special curbside debris collection for things that cannot be picked up during your regular weekly garbage and yard waste service. That includes larger items and materials like tree limbs, fencing, roofing shingles and other storm-related damage.

To keep the cleanup process smooth and safe, residents are asked to separate items as follows:

• Vegetative Debris: This includes yard waste like tree branches, logs, leaves and other green materials. It is important that vegetative debris is separated from everything else.
• Construction and Demolition Debris: Think pieces of drywall, fencing, roofing shingles, siding, lumber or broken furniture caused by storm damage.
• Household Garbage: Everyday garbage — food waste, packaging and items from your kitchen or bathroom. Do not mix household garbage with storm debris, as it will not be picked up with disaster debris.

Normal yard waste is also picked up after a storm, but it must follow regular yard waste collection guidelines and could be delayed. If you have small vegetative debris (three cubic yards or less, about the size of three ovens), you can set it out in cans, bags or bundles less than 60 pounds each to get picked up with regular yard waste collection.

Why the sorting? Different types of debris are picked up by different trucks and taken to separate disposal or recycling facilities. Mixing them together can delay removal or even result in items being left behind.

Where to Place Debris

Place all piles curbside but clear of fire hydrants, meter boxes, mailboxes, low-hanging wires or anything else that might block access. Keep piles on the public right-of-way — not in the road or near storm drains.

Debris pickup is for storm-related waste only. Do not put out old appliances, electronics, household hazardous waste and other non-storm-related items such as tires. These will be collected through regular large item pickup services.

Also, Orange County may not remove vegetative debris from private/gated communities because they are considered private property. Go to Emergency Debris Removal for more information on private/gated communities.

If Orange County activates curbside storm debris collection, updates will be posted online and shared through local news, so be sure to check Orange County Emergency Information for the latest.

Preparing now means less stress later. When it comes to hurricane season, knowing how to handle the mess afterward is just as important as being ready beforehand.