How Waste and Resource Management Supports Natural Disaster Recovery

“I have worked in this industry for over 28 years, and this is the worst I have ever seen,” says Chris Collins, deputy director of Utilities in Manatee County, Florida, which is located on the west central coast of Florida and was greatly impacted by the hurricanes. “Due to the governor's order, landfills are required to stay open extended hours for an extended period, which has put significant strain on our staff,” continues Collins. “We do not expect to return to normal operating hours until early 2025. When it’s all done, we expect to collect triple the amount of debris compared to Hurricane Ian.” 

Hurricanes generate large amounts of waste, including everything from broken trees and construction debris to personal belongings, household waste, and hazardous materials. To put it in perspective, Collins says that about 800,000 cubic yards of debris was collected from Hurricane Ian in 104 days. Just 30 days after Helene and Milton, the tally was already at 1.3 million cubic yards. The waste industry plays a vital, multifaceted role in the recovery and cleanup process, helping communities rebuild and return to normalcy as quickly as possible. 

These professionals put their communities first. They need to make sure that their own families are safe and cared for in a disaster zone while they work in the field for long hours in dangerous conditions. Additionally, they have the added responsibility of making sure they get home safely at the end of each day. 

"My heart goes out to all communities affected by the hurricanes, and especially to my colleagues and friends in Florida,” says Tammy Hayes, president of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA). “As a Florida resident myself, I know firsthand that people's lives were turned upside down, but there is comfort in knowing that the waste and resource management industry won't rest until everything is restored to order." 

One of the first and most visible steps in post-hurricane recovery is the post-event clean-up, including removing debris, clearing roads, collecting and properly disposing of used sandbags, demolition debris, special handling of hazardous waste, etc.  

“It’s a monumental task,” says Brian Usher, solid waste director of Sarasota County Solid Waste. Sarasota County, which is located on the Florida coast and was greatly impacted by the hurricanes, had collected one million cubic yards of debris as of mid-November. This includes everything from mixed debris caused by flooding to vegetative debris caused by high winds. In Florida and other impacted areas, teams have been working around the clock to clear roadways, collect piles of debris, and prevent further damage caused by blockages and hazards. 

These large amounts of debris and different types of materials can be time consuming to handle. Often, municipalities need to contract outside support for personnel and equipment. The crews may need to set up temporary disaster debris management sites to stage the excess waste generated by the storm. In addition to the recovery work, they are still collecting the regular household trash and recycling and running standard operations. 

Many residents have expressed their gratitude for this hard work and relief to have the debris managed. Waste collection is an “essential public service on a blue-sky day” and is even more essential in times of disaster, says Usher.  

Collins says that a strong communications strategy has been key to keeping residents informed and satisfied with the recovery effort. “The importance of community outreach has been a huge lesson through this experience,” he says. “Not everyone is online or able to get online, so you have to find innovative ways to communicate, and that sometimes proves challenging.” 

SWANA members confirm that their landfills have been accepting two to three times their normal traffic and volume intake, which has long-term impacts on landfill capacity. A collection route that normally takes a day might now take multiple days to complete because of the increase in debris. To manage the excess materials, some communities have set up public drop-off points for residents to use. In highly impacted areas, cleanup may still take several months.   

Recovery is a collaboration between many public and private sector stakeholders. Government departments involved in cleanup include public works, facilities, parks, and others to clear different types of materials from different areas. Local governments in neighboring counties frequently support one another to share resources and expertise. Private contractors play a large role in cleanup efforts, providing special services to municipalities in addition to servicing their regular routes and operations.  

The role of the waste and resource management industry does not end once the debris is cleared. In the aftermath of a hurricane, there is often a need for long-term waste management planning. Proactive planning for future disasters may include upgrading waste management facilities and identifying locations out of floodplains to design a disaster-resistant waste management infrastructure. Our industry can provide valuable data and insights for future storm preparedness and disaster recovery planning by analyzing waste patterns, response times, and logistical challenges.  

As storms become more frequent and intense, the waste industry’s role in hurricane recovery will only become more critical in helping communities rebuild and emerge stronger. 

"I could not be prouder of the disaster recovery response from SWANA members,” says SWANA Executive Director and CEO Amy Lestition Burke, MA, FASAE, CAE. “To see them in action has been awe-inspiring. Where it is easy to feel overwhelmed, SWANA members have stepped up to give help and hope.”