How should I separate storm debris for curbside pickup?

FEMA asks residents to separate debris into six piles: household garbage, construction debris, vegetative debris, household hazardous waste, large appliances, and electronics. Follow your local government's instructions.

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Hurricane and storm debris: how to sort it and where to take it

Downed limbs, soaked drywall and ruined appliances pile up fast after a storm. Here’s the official sorting guide, then pick your state for verified sites that take storm debris.

Gulf and Atlantic coast states

Number = verified sites listing yard waste, construction debris or appliances.

Sort storm debris into six piles at the curb

After a disaster, FEMA, the EPA and Florida’s Division of Emergency Management all publish the same basic curbside sorting guide. Haulers often collect each pile with a different truck, so mixed piles can be skipped.

Household garbage: bagged trash, spoiled food, paper, packaging.
Construction debris: drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, mattresses, shingles, plumbing.
Vegetative debris: tree branches, leaves, logs, plants.
Household hazardous waste: oil, batteries, pesticides, paint, cleaning supplies, compressed gas. If you suspect lead-based paint, keep it moist or bag it so dust doesn’t get into the air.
Large appliances: refrigerators, freezers, washers and dryers, stoves, water heaters, air conditioners, dishwashers. Tape or secure the doors shut.
Electronics: TVs, computers, phones, stereos, game consoles.

Where to put it

At the curb or edge of your property, not in the road.
Away from trees, power poles, fire hydrants, meters and utility boxes.
Check with local officials before you set debris out. After a major disaster, local governments may run temporary curbside collection for a limited time; otherwise, removing debris from private property is generally the owner’s job.

Stay safe

Treat every downed wire as live. Don’t touch it or pile debris near it; call your utility.
Wear gloves, sturdy shoes and a mask. Wet debris can grow mold.
Don’t burn debris you suspect is toxic.
Photograph damage and keep receipts before you clear it, for insurance and assistance claims.

Don't want to haul it yourself? Get a junk removal quote

Junk removal crews load and dispose of it for you, usually priced by how much of the truck you fill.

Tip: get two or three quotes from local junk removal companies, and ask whether the price includes the dump fee and labor.

Bigger project? Estimate the dumpster size you need.

Not on the coast? Search your ZIP for the nearest facility. See also yard waste and construction debris.