Just over two months after Hurricane Milton made landfall on Siesta Key as a Category 3 hurricane, storm debris collection for City of Sarasota residents is nearly complete.

Debris collection will conclude tomorrow, Friday, Dec. 20. To date, the city’s storm debris collection contractors have collected 318,404 cubic yards, or 445,766 tons, of storm debris. That’s nearly three times the total debris collected following Hurricane Ian, and more than five times the amount removed after Hurricane Irma. Dec. 20 also marks 66 days since collection began, which is within the 90-day maximum required by FEMA for full reimbursement of storm debris collection expenses.

“I can’t overstate how amazing it is that we’re concluding debris collection from this summer’s storms before the end of the year,” Todd Kucharski, the City of Sarasota's Public Works general manager. “The city was prepared and had storm debris collection contractors on standby to begin cleanup immediately following Hurricanes Helene and Milton; this milestone would not have been possible without their commitment to staying in Sarasota until debris removal is complete. Our city looks completely different than it did 60 days ago."

As the final pass of storm debris collection concludes, additional debris should not be placed curbside. Crews are finalizing the storm debris pickup process, and materials placed curbside after the final pass will require special pickup at the resident’s expense.

Residents should also remember that storm debris in plastic bags and co-mingled debris will not be collected. Residents will need to arrange special pickup for those items, or dispose of them at the Sarasota County Landfill, which is located at 4000 Knights Trail Road.

For more information about waste collection or to arrange for special pickup, contact the City of Sarasota's Solid Waste Division at (941) 263-6170.