Polk Waste Collectors Working 12-Hour Days to Handle Hurricane Debris

Polk County's contracted debris haulers have been working seven days a week, from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., since Oct. 3 to clean up Hurricane Ian's debris. In 15 days of cleanup, AshBritt's haulers have transported 6,745 loads to debris management sites, according to Polk County officials. So far, 75,000 tons (301,234 cubic yards) of debris has been recorded.

Currently, with approximately 100 units on the road in Polk County each day, haulers are collecting between 21,000 and 24,000 cubic yards of debris daily. By comparison, following Hurricane Irma, haulers averaged 10,555 yards of debris per day. That effort took six months to complete, and 1.9 million cubic yards of debris was collected. The cost was $40 million.

"We are projecting that the Hurricane Ian cleanup will take half the time – and cost half as much – as it took to clean up after Hurricane Irma," said Ryan Taylor, Polk County's Deputy Manager of Infrastructure. "We, the Board of County Commissioners, our municipal partners and our contractor are working efficiently and safely, and taking advantage of every bit of daylight, to clear Polk County of Hurricane Ian's debris."

Residents are asked not to call to report that they have debris to be picked up. Hurricane debris collection trucks are moving through Polk County and everyone's debris will be picked up in a systematic program.