Austin collects record amount of hurricane debris

Austin, Texas – The city of Austin is busy collecting a record number of limbs and debris from the ice storm. They expect it to take months.

About 70 Austin Resource Recovery crews and contractors are busy collecting storm debris in Austin.

Richard McHale, deputy director of American Resource Recovery, said they have already harvested about 2,600 tons, about half of what was harvested during the entire Uri Winter Storm.

“By the end of the week, we will have collected more material than in all of Uri’s 40-plus days,” McHale said.

To speed up the process, ARR asks that small branches be placed in green composting carts for residents. To pick up larger branches, call 311.

“We use the service request we receive through 311 to prioritize and determine where we are going to send our crews,” McHale said.

He said to fold large branches along the curb with the cut ends towards the street.

“We understand that some people have so much trash that they just can’t fit it into these rules, so we’re just asking them to do their best, but just don’t leave that trash near mailboxes or over water meters because we I don’t want to damage anything else,” McHale said.

He said it would take some time, but eventually it would all be put together.

“We hope to be able to make the first pass, which is to get to every house by the end of this month to at least do the first cleaning, but we will have to go back many times, so we are going to do several sweeps,” McHale said.

The material is taken to the Austin Water Utility, where it is mulched and mixed with biosolids to create compost.

For those who may have physical or financial limitations, the Austin Disaster Relief Network, a network of about 200 churches, is ready to help.

“Our desire is to identify those who need it most and help address them first and meet as many needs as possible,” said Austin Disaster Relief Network Deputy Director Steven Brewer.

Brewer said they have received more than 1,600 requests for help, and church groups are stepping in to fulfill them.

“We see community members rising up from all over the world for a variety of reasons that may be motivated to respond, but it’s great to see the entire community coming together to help fill a need that none of us could do alone.” Brewer said. .

The Austin Disaster Relief Network operates primarily through donations. If you would like to help, please click here.