In order to prepare for hurricane season and enable its drivers to restart essential services as soon as a storm passes, WM offers the following tips to its residential and business customers in Florida:
BEFORE THE STORM:
- Trim your vegetation now. You must stop all yard maintenance and tree trimming activities when a projected Florida landfall is announced. Avoid placing yard waste at the curb once a hurricane watch has been issued.
- Move all trash and recycling container to a safe, enclosed area to prevent them from being displaced by wind or storm surge.
- Secure, bundle and tie down all loose trash such as tree limbs, wood planks or building and roof tiles. Place these materials in a location where debris cannot become hazardous in high winds. Avoid placing bulk waste at the curb once a hurricane watch has been issued.
- WM will continue to collect household trash and recycling materials in the neighborhoods it serves according to regular schedules until sustainable winds reach 35 mph or local authorities instruct WM to suspend service due to the closure of landfills or other disposal sites.
AFTER THE STORM:
- Separate your regular household waste from any storm debris caused by high winds and rain. Storm debris including tree limbs, carpet, aluminum and wood fencing, and household appliances should be placed curbside in a separate pile.
- Separating normal household waste from storm debris will allow WM employees to collect your household trash safely and more quickly.