Helene Debris can be dropped off for a limited time

Press release from Alachua County

ALACHUA COUNTY, Fla. – With the cleanup from Hurricane Helene just beginning and the potential for Hurricane Milton to impact Alachua County this week, Alachua County is offering residents the opportunity to dispose of yard trash at the Leveda Brown Environmental Park free of charge and lifting the volume limit on yard trash accepted at the five Rural Collection Centers. The disaster debris collection contractors and GFL (the County’s regular collection vendor) will continue to go through the unincorporated portion of the County collecting debris from Hurricane Helene until it is no longer safe. These opportunities to drop off your debris are only for the time leading up to the impact of Hurricane Milton and will not extend beyond its arrival.

The Leveda Brown Environmental Park is open Monday-Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 7 a.m. to noon. The address is:

• 5115 NE 63rd Ave in Gainesville.

The five Rural Collection Centers are open Monday, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Their addresses are:

• 19401 SW Archer Rd.
• 16929 NW US Hwy 441
• 9920 NE Waldo Rd.
• 10714 NE State Rd. 121
• 11700 SE Hawthorne Rd.

The County’s disaster debris collection contractors are collecting debris from Hurricane Helene located on rights-of-way and in publicly accessible residential areas of unincorporated Alachua County. They began collecting debris in the most heavily affected areas on Thursday, October 3. All areas of the County should be reached at least once within the first 30 days of operation. The collection vehicles operate from 7 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday-Sunday and will complete multiple passes through all areas. The County provides this service to all residents in the unincorporated portion of Alachua County.

Residents in the mandatory collection area can expect two separate collection vehicles to come through for yard trash. The regular yard trash collection vehicles operated by GFL will continue to operate on their regular schedule but will only collect yard trash in reusable containers. The debris collection contractors will collect yard trash in paper lawn bags or piles. Yard trash in plastic bags will not be collected. To help speed up the collection efforts of the contractors, please consolidate your yard trash into a single large pile.

Please follow the below rules when placing yard trash curbside:

• The County has waived regular yard trash size and weight restrictions
• Do not place yard trash in plastic bags
• Place all debris on the curb or roadside, not in the street. Do not block traffic or street access
• Do not place debris on or near utility boxes or lines, cable lines, telephone lines, or other obstructions. Be aware of infrastructure below and above the ground.

If you live in a gated community, the County is still waiting for FEMA to approve collection from your area. While we wait for that authorization, please have your Homeowner’s Association contact the County at 352-338-3233 to complete a right-of-entry agreement.

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