How should I sort storm debris for city pickup?

FEMA recommends six piles: electronics, large appliances, hazardous waste, vegetative debris, construction debris and household garbage. Follow your city’s instructions, which may differ.

Will the city pick up debris my roofer removed?

Often not. Many cities, including Houston, do not collect debris generated by contractors. Ask your roofer to include haul-away or rent a container.

How fast should wet drywall and carpet come out?

The EPA advises drying wet building materials within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold. Anything that can’t be dried should come out quickly.

Can I put a flooded refrigerator in a dumpster?

Usually not. Refrigerators contain refrigerant that must be recovered first. Place it in the appliance pile for city collection or ask about options.

Storm Debris Cleanup: What Goes Where

Safety first

Before any cleanup, make sure the area is safe. Stay away from downed power lines and assume they are live. Do not enter a flooded basement if the water could reach outlets or appliances. Wear gloves, boots and eye protection, and be careful with chainsaws – tree work under tension is dangerous and often a job for professionals. Take photos and videos of the damage before you remove anything; your insurer will want them.

How cities collect storm debris

After a large storm, many cities and counties run a special curbside debris collection in addition to regular trash service. Crews come through neighborhoods in “passes”, often for weeks. The scale can be enormous: after Hurricane Beryl hit Houston in July 2024, the City of Houston estimated about 4 million cubic yards of storm debris and collected more than 4.7 million cubic yards (including debris from a May 2024 derecho) by the end of its second pass in September.

These collections usually follow FEMA’s guidance and ask residents to separate debris at the curb.

The six piles FEMA recommends

Pile	Examples
1. Electronics	TVs, computers, phones
2. Large appliances	Refrigerators, washers, dryers, stoves, dishwashers
3. Hazardous waste	Oil, batteries, pesticides, paint, cleaning supplies
4. Vegetative debris	Tree branches, leaves, plants
5. Construction debris	Building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, mattresses
6. Household garbage	Food, paper, packaging (goes in regular trash service)

FEMA’s tips for curbside piles:

Seal or secure the doors of refrigerators and freezers so no one can get trapped inside.
If you suspect materials contain lead-based paint, keep them moist or bag them so paint dust doesn’t become airborne.
Place debris away from trees, poles, fire hydrants and meters, where the collection equipment can reach it without damaging anything.
Do not block the roadway.

Your city may use different categories or ask for fewer piles. Always follow the local instructions, which are usually posted on the city or county website and social media after a storm.

Document everything for insurance

Photograph each room and each damaged item before you remove it, including labels of appliances and electronics.
Keep samples of materials such as carpet and flooring if your adjuster asks for them.
Write down what you throw away and keep receipts for cleanup supplies, dumpster rental and emergency repairs.
Ask your insurer before you replace anything major, and before you pay a contractor large sums upfront.

Wet materials: what usually has to go

Porous materials that were soaked, especially by floodwater, are hard to dry and clean. The EPA advises drying wet building materials and furnishings within 24 to 48 hours to prevent mold growth, and notes that porous materials that can’t be cleaned and dried may need to be thrown away. In practice, that often means:

carpet and carpet pad,
drywall and insulation below the water line (and usually a bit above it),
upholstered furniture and mattresses,
particleboard furniture and cabinets that have swollen.

Hard surfaces such as tile, metal and solid wood can often be cleaned and dried. When in doubt, ask a restoration professional.

What city storm collections usually won’t take

Debris from contractors. Many cities do not collect material removed by a paid contractor – roofing, remodeling or tree service debris – and expect the contractor to haul it away. The City of Houston, for example, states that its heavy trash service may not collect material generated by contractors working on a home.
Debris from businesses and some rental properties, depending on the program.
Mixed piles. Crews may skip or refuse piles in which categories are mixed.
Debris placed after the final pass. Once the special collection ends, piles at the curb can lead to a citation.

When a private dumpster makes sense

You can’t wait. City passes can take weeks. Wet drywall, insulation and carpet should come out quickly – the EPA advises drying wet materials within 24 to 48 hours to limit mold – and a container means the debris doesn’t sit in your yard.
A contractor is doing the work. Roofers and remodelers often include a container; if not, you need one because the city likely won’t take their debris.
Big volume. A flooded ground floor, a full roof or several fallen trees quickly exceed what fits neatly at the curb.
No room at the curb. Narrow streets and ditches or canals along the road limit curb piles.

Demand for dumpsters jumps right after a storm. Call early, ask how much weight is included (wet materials are much heavier than dry ones), and ask about the delivery date before you book.

Sizing a storm cleanup container

Flooded rooms: a 20 yard container is a common choice for one floor of drywall, insulation, flooring and furniture. Weight is the limit, not volume.
Roof damage: 10 to 20 yards depending on roof size and layers. See roof tear-off: dumpster size and weight.
Tree debris: branches are bulky but light; a 20 or 30 yard container often works. Trunks and stumps are heavy. Some providers want yard waste separate.

Watch out for storm-chaser scams

After big storms, out-of-town crews and door-to-door sellers appear quickly. Some are legitimate, some are not. Get written estimates, check that the company can be reached locally, be wary of large upfront payments and of anyone who offers to “handle the insurance” for you, and never sign documents you don’t understand. A dumpster provider should give you a clear price for the container, the rental days and the included weight before delivery.

Before the next storm

Trim trees that hang over the roof or power lines before storm season. Dead and weak branches become debris first.
Know your collection rules. Find your city’s storm debris page now, so you know the categories and where to check for collection passes.
Photograph your home and belongings before the season. “Before” photos make insurance claims much easier.
Save important numbers – your insurer, a roofer, a restoration company and a dumpster provider – somewhere you can reach them without power.
Secure loose items such as patio furniture, trash cans and construction materials that could become projectiles.

Keep the dangerous items out

Storm cleanups turn up paint cans, pool chemicals, fuel, batteries and spoiled refrigerators. These do not belong in a dumpster. See What can’t you put in a dumpster? for where they go instead.

How our service fits in

Local Dumpster Network is a free referral service. When you call, you are connected with an independent, local dumpster provider that serves your ZIP code. Hurricane regions we cover include Houston, South Florida, Tampa Bay and New Orleans.

Storm debris cleanup: what goes where