With the peak of hurricane season upon us, there will be its share of limb debris or trees down that will come from it as a result.
However, it’s one thing to cut up or collect the debris sitting in one’s yard after a storm passes through, but what is the best way to go about making sure it gets picked up and does not sit there for a lengthy period?
The St. Johns County solid waste division has certain guidelines that they ask residents to follow in order to make the pickup process and easier one for everyone involved.
When it comes to yard waste, leaves, grass clippings, twigs and other smaller pieces should be bagged, bundled, tied or in a garbage bin no larger than 32 gallons and should weigh no more than 50 pounds.
Branches, shrubs and stumps, which can be common following a storm can be placed at the street but only if they are less than six feet long and weigh less than 50 pounds.
They must also be stacked into neat piles that are parallel to the curb.
Living in Florida also produces a lot of palm fronds as debris. The county recommends that palm fronds be stacked in neat piles with the fan portion facing away from the curb and street, which will allow for easier and quicker access for collectors to grab and transport to the truck.
Some of the things that should not be put out for yard waste collection include whole trees, land clearing debris, any yard waste heavier than 50 pounds or more than six feet, landscape, timbers, garden hoses, planters and yard decorations.
The county also instructs that yard waste should never be put in a person’s recycling cart or in front of vacant lots, which do not have a house on the property.
Having people place items on vacant lots has also been mentioned and discussed at previous Ponte Vedra Beach Municipal Service District meetings in the past.
All yard waste, garbage and recycling must be separated by the resident and placed curbside by 6 a.m. on the scheduled collection day for that area.
The county is divided into two collection companies with Republic Services in charge of collecting the garbage, recycling and yard waste for the northern half of St. Johns County north of the St. Johns River following County Road 208 and north of State Road 16 to the ocean.
Meanwhile, Advanced Disposal services residents in the southern end of the county south of the St. Johns River and once again following County Road 208 and south of State Road 16 to the shore.
To find out which days your area gets collected, call 904-827-6980 or email solidwaste@sjcfl.us to find out.
