Brush, Debris Clean Up Begins
By Emma Perez-Trevino, The Brownsville Herald, Texas
Jul. 29–Cameron County is up to its armpits in brush from an endless supply of downed and snapped trees and other debris that Dolly, a Category 2 hurricane, trashed.
County officials on Monday estimated a $6 million price tag for removing the brush and debris that the storm scattered, blew and destroyed for rural Cameron County and its smaller cities.
The larger cities like Brownsville and Harlingen are making their own debris-removal arrangements while, San Benito and South Padre Island have already made theirs, county Transportation Director Pete Sepulveda said.
County Judge Carlos Cascos and Sepulveda assured Monday that CERES Environmental Services Inc., a prime contractor in the 2005 Category 5 Hurricane Katrina relief effort, is in town and poised to provide disaster recovery clean up.
“They are on board,” Sepulveda said.
CERES will begin collecting debris Wednesday, in rural Cameron County, outside cities’ limits.
Residents are asked to place debris along the public right of way and not obstruct sidewalks, traffic or utility lines. They also are asked to stack trees and branches, cut from eight to 12 feet in length in piles and not to mix other items with trees, brush and branches. Multiple sweeps will be conducted.
County Emergency Management Coordinator Johnny Cavazos said that the firm cannot go into private property, but would remove and dispose of biohazards and hazardous materials, animal carcasses, and regular brush, tree and wood debris from curbsides, streets, and roadsides.
CERES also will be in charge of handling items such as stoves, freezers and refrigerators and recycling Freon.
The household base in rural Cameron County is roughly 16,000.
Red River Services Corp. was originally contracted to collect garbage and brush in rural areas, but its contract ends in September.
Red River pulled out of the contract with the county in May amid fee-collection problems and inability to secure a firm customer base, Brownsville Herald archives reflect, but it stays through the end of August when Browning Ferris Industries/Allied Waste Services jumps in Sept. 1.
Red River’s Web site relays that, “yes, bad weather, such as heavy rainfall, floods, and hurricanes may delay your collection but all collections will be made as soon as possible.”
The Web site also notes that residential brush and bulk waste collection services transitioned to an “On Call” collection service in November and to call (866) 720-7772 to request the service.
Cascos said he has received numerous calls that Red River is not collecting brush. “I have gotten some calls that they are just not doing it,” Cascos said.
The county hasn’t stepped in either. “We haven’t done anything. We do not have the ability to pick up trash,” Cascos said, speculating that residents likely are burning trash.
Red River representatives were not available for comment.
BFI/Allied Waste already has contracts with numerous cities in Cameron County and has been assisting in the clean up. “That is our obligation,” spokesman Jon Deicla said. He also noted that many of the firm’s employees also live in the Rio Grande Valley.
“We are sensitive to the needs,” said Deicla, who also noted that CERES is moving toward subcontracting firms to assist in the clean up and BFI/Allied Waste could be one of them.
Allied Waste is operating its normal residential pick-up schedule on the South Padre Island, said Melissa Zamora, South Padre Island Deputy Emergency Management public information officer, on Monday.
She noted that an additional site has been set up at Island Baptist Church, 107 Mesquite, for trash drop-off. An additional debris drop-off site is the north parking lot of the Convention Centre. Zamora said that debris also can be placed for pick-up at residential curbs.
San Benito Communications Director Martha McClain in a press statement Monday said the city executed a contract with Beck Disaster Recovery Inc. and CERES for debris removal.
She said residents should create separate piles for tree branches and limbs, and a second for items such as wet carpet, fence material, shingles and furniture.
“The separate piles should be placed on the curb in front of their homes for expedited removal. However, piles that already contain mixed debris will be collected at a higher rate to be charged by the contracted firms,” she pointed out.
Harlingen city officials were not available for comment.
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