Hurricane Irma Aftermath: Tarpon Springs To Being Debris Collection

TARPON SPRINGS, FL – With residents across Tarpon Springs getting their homes back in order after Hurricane Irma skirted Pinellas County, the city announced updates for its storm debris collection.

Storm debris collection for residents inside the city limits of Tarpon Springs will begin Monday, Sept. 18. The city has asked its residents to sort its storm debris and regular garbage into six different categories:

• Normal household trash: Regular household trash and bagged debris of any kind will not be picked up with storm debris. Residential and commercial garbage pickup is back on its regular schedule within the city limits.
• Vegetative: Leaves (do not bag), logs, plants, tree branches
• Construction and demolition: Building materials, carpet, drywall, furniture, lumber mattresses, plumbing
• Appliances and white goods: Air conditioners, dishwashers, freezers, refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters
• Electronics: Computers, radios, stereos, televisions, other devices with a cord
• Household hazardous waste: Cleaning supplies, batteries, lawn chemicals, oils, oil-based paints and stains, pesticides

Debris should be placed on the curbside without blocking the roadway or storm drains. If there is not a sidewalk, ditch or utility line in front of a property, place debris at the edge of the property before the curb. Debris placed from the sidewalk toward the property building will not be picked up.

The City of Tarpon Springs announced Saturday that its Yard Waste Facility will be closed to the public until debris collection has finished.

Sandbags

The City of Tarpon Springs encouraged its residents to recycle or dispose of their sandbags instead of returning them to the city’s distribution sites.

For sandbags that did not come into contact with floodwater:

• Spread sand on lawns or landscape beds, then recycle the bag or place it in the garbage
• Keep and store clean sandbags for future use

For sandbags that came into contact with floodwater:

• Bring sandbags, separated from other waste, to the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Facility, 3095 114th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Sandbag disposal at the facility is free.

Building permits

The City of Tarpon Springs Building Department has reopened for all permitting at City Hall, 324 E. Pine St. The department will offer streamlined permitting for storm repairs will be offer until further notice.

The department will allow trees damaged by the storm to be removed without a permit. Undamaged trees will still require a permit for removal.

Public Utilities

Water Supply: The City of Tarpon Springs reported its water wells are operating and supplying water to customers. Customers may experience lower water pressure during the city’s storm reconstruction period.

Sanitary Sewer: As of Friday, Sept. 15, 15 of the city’s wastewater lift stations are still operating on generator power. The city still asks its water customers from taking lengthy showers and to keep laundry and dishwasher use to a minimum until full power restoration occurs.

“This will assist in relieving some of the strain on our wastewater systems and reduce the possibility of sanitary sewer spills,” city officials said in a Facebook post. “We thank our customers for their understanding and cooperation during this time.”

Image courtesy of Tarpon Springs Police Department Facebook page