Flood debris trucks roll Wednesday: Kerr County launches 3-week C&D pickup in unincorporated areas

Heavy trucks begin collecting construction and demolition debris from unincorporated Kerr County as early as Wednesday, Aug. 26, under an emergency contract awarded Monday by the Commissioners’ Court.

Garner Environmental Services Inc. will handle the collection for the next three weeks under a contract not to exceed $500,000. The county separately contracted DebrisTech, for the same amount and time frame, to monitor collections and audit volumes — independent oversight required to secure federal reimbursement, if it becomes available, and to guard against fraud by verifying that loads contain only what they’re supposed to.

The pickup targets debris generated by the July 16 catastrophic flood and the mucking out, demolition and construction that followed as residents repair flood-damaged homes and businesses.

County officials stressed the contract covers construction and demolition materials only — wood, steel, concrete, bricks, drywall, plaster, flooring, ceiling tiles, sinks, toilets, pipes, wiring, windows and shingles. It does not cover vegetative debris, appliances, electronics, hazardous materials or any other flood-generated waste.

How to get your debris collected

For piles to be picked up, residents must make sure debris is:

• Separated from all other types of debris
• Placed directly on the right-of-way at the edge of the property, next to the public road
• Clear of roads and drainage ditches
• Accessible to trucks’ mechanical arms — away from low-hanging power lines, trees, fire hydrants, water meters and mailboxes

Collection trucks will not enter private property or remove debris from it.

Household garbage will not be collected, and Sheriff Larry Leitha has warned that his office will take a zero-tolerance approach to anyone illegally dumping garbage into flood debris piles.

“Right now, we’re doing everything in our power to do things as quickly and as economically as we can,” County Judge Rob Kelly said.

Residents with questions should contact their precinct commissioner; contact information and a precinct map are on the Commissioners’ Court page of the Kerr County website.

Drivers in the unincorporated areas should use extra caution on local roads as the heavy trucks begin hauling.