Tampa Republic

The City of Tampa has announced the completion of its storm debris cleanup ahead of schedule, following the impact of two significant hurricanes this fall. The Solid Waste Department reported that it finished clearing debris before Christmas, providing residents with a cleaner environment for the holidays.

Hurricane Helene struck in late September, causing major flooding along the Tampa Bay coastline. Two weeks later, Hurricane Milton made landfall south of Tampa. These back-to-back storms resulted in an unprecedented amount of debris across the region.

Working alongside approximately 300 contracted haulers, and peaking at 450, Tampa's Department of Solid Waste & Environmental Program Management removed over 1.3 million cubic yards of debris from city streets and neighborhoods. This volume is enough to fill the city's downtown high-rise known as the Beer Can Building four times.

Crews made three passes through neighborhoods to ensure thorough cleanup. In total, workers logged more than 118,000 hours on this effort. The next phase involves transporting all debris from drop-off sites to McKay Bay Transfer Station for FEMA assessment and approval. The city aims to meet FEMA’s deadline by January 11, 2025.

Mayor Jane Castor stated, “Completing our curbside debris removal ahead of schedule is no small feat, and it highlights the dedication and hard work of our city staff who’ve worked seven days a week since Hurricane Helene to return our community to normal.” She added that this historic hurricane season tested their capabilities but praised the efforts of Solid Waste workers and contractors.

Solid Waste Director Larry Washington expressed pride in his team's commitment and coordination with contractors: “I’m incredibly proud of our team’s commitment and coordination with contractors that has allowed us to surpass expectations.”

Residents can monitor progress via an interactive storm debris clearing map provided by the city. Debris disposal options remain available until December 20 at designated locations for vegetative waste only. Afterward, residents may self-haul remaining materials to McKay Bay Transfer Station or arrange special pick-ups for a fee.

With hurricane debris collection concluding, attention now shifts to processing remaining vegetative material from management sites. Yard waste collection will resume on December 30, followed by SWEEP Collection on January 6.

For further inquiries or concerns regarding waste services or scheduled collections dates, residents are encouraged to contact Tampa's Department of Solid Waste Customer Service Center or visit their website.