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Residents must notify county officials for pickup

 

POLK COUNTY—The county recently partnered with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help residents remove storm-related debris from their properties. 

USACE contractors have officially begun removing the debris left behind by Tropical Storm Helene across the county. All public and private roadways are eligible for this service.

Cleanup crews are transporting the debris to an approved temporary site on Wolverine Trail in Mill Spring, on Polk County-owned property.

For proper collection, debris must be placed within ten feet of the road’s edge, away from utility poles, fire hydrants, or gas meters. Properties on private driveways or within gated communities need to move their storm-related debris to within ten feet of a designated public or private roadway. This includes residents in the towns of Columbus and Tryon and the City of Saluda.

Only debris resulting from Helene’s damage is eligible for removal. All other debris can be brought to the Polk County Transfer Station or disposed of normally.

Residents are asked to sort debris into the following categories:

• Vegetative Debris: tree limbs, branches, leaves, logs, plants.
• Construction Debris: building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, plumbing, etc.
• Large Appliances: refrigerators, washer/dryers, air conditioners, stoves, water heaters, dishwashers, etc.
• Household Hazardous Waste: oil, batteries, pesticide, paint, cleaning supplies, etc.
• Electronics: computers, televisions, DVD players, phones, etc.

There are no specific schedules for when contractors will be on each road. During the process, residents may see trucks making multiple passes along roads. 

“Do not be concerned if drivers do not pick up your debris on the first pass, as that truck may be assigned to pick up a specific type of debris,” according to a post on polknc.gov. “However, if you wait to put your debris out, and they come down your road to pick up the type of debris you have, there is no guarantee they will return another time for that type.

“To ensure all storm-related debris is removed, please have it placed now, within ten feet of the roadway and separated by type to facilitate efficient pickup.”

An online form for notifying county officials about the location of storm debris and requesting its removal is available at polknc.gov. Residents can also call (828) 722-5086 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive assistance from a staff member over the phone.