It has taken the better part of six weeks, but as of Sunday, crews have cleared at least 90 percent of the tree limbs and other yard waste from Hurricane Helene in late September and the multiple tornadoes that Hurricane Milton spawned on Oct. 9.
Tetra Tech, the contracted yard waste hauler for the City of Vero Beach, has collected and mulched more than 70,000 cubic yards of vegetation, said Joe Berenato, the city’s assistant director of solid waste. Tetra Tech will continue to collect yard waste for several more weeks, but homeowners need to think about gathering the last of their waste to the edge of their properties soon, Berenato said.
“The snowbirds come down a little bit later in November, so people are still getting their waste together for pick-up,” he said. If residents still have large limbs, they should call the city’s Solid Waste Department at 772-978-3500 to arrange pick-up. Regular yard waste pickup will continue as usual after all the large limbs are retrieved, Berenato said.
Though yard waste pickup day is on Wednesdays in the City of Vero Beach, homeowners within the city limits who pay Vero Beach for their solid waste service (not county or Indian River Shores residents who have their own collection systems) may put out up to four standard-size cans and/or bundled piles up to 40 pounds each. Limbs must be four feet long or less, and up to only three inches in diameter.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
