After almost unimaginable impact from Hurricane Helene, Bulloch County Board of Commissioners have contracted with Southern Disposal Recovery to help homeowners remove fallen trees, limbs, and other yard debris. Commissioners unanimously approved an agreement at their October 9th meeting. Southern Disposal Recovery (SDR) will collect yard debris from the right of way of county-maintained roads across Bulloch County as well as the county’s solid waste collection sites.
“We simply do not have the manpower or equipment to collect all the debris in a timely manner and still manage to provide the other services we are obligated to deliver to our citizens,” Public Works Director Dink Butler told commissioners prior to their vote.
Helene’s winds brought down trees and power lines across Bulloch County in the early hours of September 27. SBR is also partnering with the City of Statesboro to remove natural debris inside the city limits. The company anticipates collecting 250,000 cubic yards of yard debris from outside the city. They will begin collections Saturday, October 12.
City and County leaders urge citizens to move their yard debris – separate from any building materials or solid waste – to the right of way outside their home as soon as possible. SDR crews hope to have made a complete sweep over the county by December 1. At that time, the county and the company will reevaluate to determine if a second sweep will be necessary.
Bulloch County and the City of Statesboro is incorporating steps to maximize reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at hopefully a 100 percent level. The steps include creating temporary sites for SDR to deposit the debris for documentation. In addition, the county has contracted with a third-party auditor to monitor the waste documentation. FEMA requires an outside monitoring company to confirm debris figures. These deposit sites will be for the contractor only and won’t be accessible for citizens.
As the county has developed this plan, they have encountered some of the following questions:
Can you tell me when my debris will be picked up?
No, we can’t. SDR will be working in multiple zones of the county at the same time. We hope to establish a progress map online that will show where they’ve been so far in their initial sweep and what areas remain.
What will they collect?
Trees, limbs, branches, and other natural vegetation.
Where will they collect?
Along county-maintained roads, paved or dirt, and from the solid waste centers across the county. If you live along a state highway, state crews will be handling it.
What if I live in a private subdivision?
Please get it to the right of way outside your subdivision, or to one of the solid waste centers.
Where do I pile my debris?
On the right-of-way, next to the road in front of your property so the collection equipment can reach it from the road. Please do NOT include any household debris (building materials, metal, etc.)
Is there a limit to how much they’ll remove?
No. However, you’re asked to cut debris pieces to six feet or shorter to help the crews gather the piles as quickly as possible and maximize their time.
Can I burn my debris in the County?
Yes as long as it is safe to do so, low or no winds and debris is not close to power lines, your home or other structures that a large fire may endanger. There is no burn permit required in the County to burn storm debris.
Bulloch County Board of Commissioners, Public Works, and SDR hope to have citizens’ debris piles removed from the right of way along county roads as soon as possible.
City of Statesboro Debris Cleanup
Hurricane Helene made a bit of a mess on her pass through town, but the City is working to get it cleaned up as quickly as possible. The City of Statesboro and Bulloch County have contracted with Southern Disaster Recovery to assist in the removal of Hurricane Helene debris. Statesboro residents and businesses should place their yard waste and debris in the public right-of-way for collection.
Debris should be placed without blocking the roadway or storm drains, mailboxes, and fire hydrants.
Debris piles should be separated into two separate piles:
- construction debris (lumber, shingles, metal)
- vegetative debris (tree limbs, leaves).
Waste and debris placed curbside will be collected as Public Works crews or private contractors can get to it. Please be patient as we process unprecedented levels of debris at the landfill.
Please remember the following when placing your items at the curb for collection:
- Only storm-related vegetative debris is accepted. No other trash or debris that was not a result of the storm will be picked up.
- No hazardous waste will be collected. Examples are paint cans, pesticides, chemicals of any kind, motor oil, batteries, etc.
- No storm debris in trash bags/trash cans will be collected. Empty/place storm debris directly on the right-of-way for removal. If you have already placed storm debris in trash bags/trash cans, we ask that you remove the debris and empty it directly on the right-of-way. If needed, debris can be placed in cardboard boxes.
- Debris contractors will NOT go onto private property to retrieve any storm debris.
- Once the first pass phase is completed, the debris contractors will then schedule their subsequent passes through to pick-up any and all related storm vegetative debris. This too will take time to complete, and we again ask for your patience.
- We also ask that residents move any vehicles off of the roads where possible.
Additional Notices:
- The Statesboro Landfill will not be receiving bulk waste at this time. Debris should be placed in the right-of-way for pickup.
- No burning debris in the city. The Statesboro Fire Department has temporarily suspended the issuance of residential burn permits to reduce the risk of accidental fires, given the large volume of storm debris scattered throughout the city.
For more storm-related resources, visit www.statesboroga.gov/storm.
