As the 2015 Atlantic hurricane season gets underway, Waste Management officials say Gulf Coast residents should add storm readiness for their trash to the usual hurricane checklist — securing containers before a storm and knowing how debris will be handled after one.
Before the Storm
If a storm threatens, residents and businesses should move garbage and recycling containers somewhere the wind can’t turn them into projectiles. Loose yard debris should be bundled and tied down as well — tree limbs, loose materials and construction debris can become wind-borne damage hazards if left unsecured.
After the Storm
Collection service does not restart immediately after landfall. Waste Management says trucks return to routes only once local and state officials declare streets safe and passable.
Once pickup resumes, sorting matters. Household waste such as food scraps, diapers and wrappers should be kept separate from storm debris caused by rain, wind and rising water, so each stream can be handled properly.
Experience From Past Gulf Storms
The company says its response plans draw on years of hurricane recovery work across the Gulf Coast. “At Waste Management, we consider it a top priority to ensure the safety of the communities we serve,” said René Faucheux, the company’s Gulf Coast senior manager of government and community affairs, adding that residents and businesses must also do their part “in order to have an effective storm response.”
Officials recommend reviewing official emergency coordination plans now — before any system has a name — rather than scrambling when tropical weather is already on the maps.