Republic offers Hurricane Florence cleanup tips

Hurricane Florence, which made landfall in the Carolinas Sept. 17, brought high winds, heavy rains and flooding throughout the region. A number of communities and businesses are now starting to deal with the cleanup efforts.

As recovery efforts get underway, Republic Services, Phoenix, offers the following tips to help with trash collection, recycling and removal of storm debris.

• Keep household trash and recycling separate from storm debris. Materials such as tree branches, drywall and waterlogged electronics or appliances should not go in the trash or recycling containers. These materials typically are picked up by separately contracted storm debris removal companies.

• Storm debris should never be placed in garbage bags. Bags prevent storm debris removal companies from seeing what's inside and may result in the bags being left behind. Instead, place storm debris at the curb in separate piles, such as large appliances, electronics, construction materials, hazardous waste or yard waste. Be sure not to block roadways or storm drains.

• Republic will continue to collect its customers solid waste and recycling as soon as roads are clear. In most cities, storm debris is separately contracted under FEMA disaster assistance based on assessments from local emergency managers. Debris pickup will be separate from regular waste and recycling collection.

• Republic is already in the process of resuming regular residential and commercial collection services in the impacted areas. For updates about waste and recycling collection schedules, check republicservices.com/service-alerts or use the My Resource app for iOS or Android.