Hillsborough asks for patience on debris pickup

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There are plenty of people across Hillsborough County who are frustrated by the piles of debris lining neighborhoods streets. Hillsborough County wants residents to know help is on the way.

"Be patient, it will get cleaned up," promised Commissioner Lesley Miller. "It may not be tomorrow; it may not be the next week. But be patient, and we'll get there."

As of last Sunday, the county says 56 contractor crews and 10 county crews are sweeping through areas collecting debris left by Hurricane Irma three weeks ago.

It hopes to finish the first pass by mid-November.

"We're going to ask the contractors to continue to ramp up, we don't know what the optimum crew size is, but we definitely have to meet that November date if not better, if at all possible," said Hillsborough's Public Works Director, John Lyons.

Hillsborough County also needs residents to help. Yard debris, like branches and limbs, must be separated from construction debris, which includes fences and plywood, or else those piles may get left behind.

"Throughout New Tampa, which is in the city of Tampa, they rummaged through these stacks, they took some branches, they didn't take other branches," said Commissioner Victor Crist. "They took some debris; they didn't take other debris. A lot of anger just coming from, 'Well if they came here, why didn't they just pick it all up in one visit?'"

Contractors might need more than one trip to pick up all your debris. That's why Hillsborough County is preaching patience.

Residents can also haul their own debris. They are advised to check with your county's website for information.

In Hillsborough County, there are three drop off locations:

-Falkenburg Road - 346 N. Falkenburg Road in Tampa
-Northwest County - 8001 W. Linebaugh Ave. in Tampa
-South County - 13000 U.S. Highway 41 in Gibsonton

These three locations are open Monday through Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents must show a valid Florida driver's license to receive free yard waste disposal.

Commercial businesses and landscapers can also take yard waste to the yard waste processing sites and must pay the $38.01 per ton disposal fee.

Pasco County has two locations for debris drop off:

-East Pasco Transfer Station, 9626 Handcart Rd, Dade City
-West Pasco Resource Recovery, 14606 Hays Rd, Spring Hill

Both locations are open Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.