Severe Weather Waste Tips

Palm tree in storm weather

In the event of tropical or severe weather, the City of Port St. Lucie will continue waste collection and disposal services until weather conditions prohibit it.

Before Hurricane Season begins

  • Clean your yard of items that could become projectiles in a storm, such as broken lawn furniture or loose items.
  • Trim trees and plants regularly; do not wait for a hurricane warning or hurricane season to begin (June 1 to November 30). Cut weak branches and thin out foliage to decrease the chance that trees/plants will be uprooted. All major cutting should be completed from December-April and disposal should be planned for all debris.

Once a watch or warning is issued

Once notified by the City that collection will cease due to weather, residents are asked to:

  • Refrain from trimming vegetation just before a storm; it will not be collected until after the storm.
  • Secure garbage and recycling containers away from the curb, ideally inside a garage.
  • Bundle and tie down all loose trash, such as tree limbs, and place these materials where debris cannot become hazardous to homes and automobiles in high winds.
  • Stop construction projects that produce debris that could become projectiles.
  • Refrain from putting bulk waste curbside. If you want to utilize the City's Convenient Drop-off Center on Cameo Boulevard for disposal of large bulk and yard waste, please check the website or call at 772-871-1775 and press 5 to determine if operational hours may be affected.

City Ordinance Section 98.09 (a) - Removal of Debris: Once the City is placed in the "cone of uncertainty" by the National Weather Service (NWS), City residents are required to cease all trimming of vegetation. Once the City is forecast to incur tropical storm force winds within 96 hours the City will cease all Solid Waste Operations to prepare for the storm. After the storm event has passed and the City, per NWS, is no longer in the potential impact region, residents are encouraged to place their waste curbside. This also applies to the placing out of bulk waste such as furniture, mattresses, white goods etc.

After the storm

The City asks for your patience. After a storm has passed, our priority is to clear roadways to allow safe passage through our community.

  • Help recovery efforts by separating garbage, vegetation and bulk debris. 
  • Securely containerize all household garbage in garbage carts and place curbside on your scheduled collection day.
  • Place yard & bulk waste piles away from trees and power lines. Trucks cannot pick-up debris piles underneath them.
  • Check our website or call 772-871-1775 and press 5 for solid waste collection updates, as collections schedules may be affected.

Learn more about Hurricanes and Storms

See also...

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