Augusta, GA – City officials have announced changes to the debris removal process and provided an update on the completion of initial passes in the wake of recent storms. The city’s debris contractor, Ceres, has collected approximately 2.4 million cubic yards of vegetative debris since October 7 and is nearing the end of its first pass through affected areas.

Officials stated that the next phase of the cleanup process, the “final pass,” will soon begin, targeting specific zones of the city. These zones will be identified according to voter precincts, and residents can expect to receive announcements regarding the schedule and order of final pass operations. For those unsure of their voter precinct number, officials recommend consulting the debris collection map, the Augusta Board of Elections website, or calling the 3-1-1 service for assistance.

During the final pass, Ceres crews will go street-by-street to remove any remaining vegetative debris. Once a street has been cleared and the work is certified as complete by the supervising contractor, no further debris removal will occur on that street, except for the collection of stumps and root balls.

In preparation for the final pass, city officials are advising residents to place any remaining debris in the right-of-way. This is to ensure the debris is within reach of contractors and does not create hazards in the roadway. The city has also outlined several important guidelines for vegetative debris:

• Debris Placement: Debris should be placed along the right-of-way, but not in the roadway, to avoid obstructing traffic or creating hazards. Contractors will not collect debris from private property.
• Vegetative Debris Only: Only vegetative materials, such as tree limbs and branches, will be collected. Debris mixed with household garbage, construction materials, or furniture will not be removed.
• Debris Pile Size: Smaller piles of debris should be consolidated into larger piles to ensure efficient collection. FEMA regulations require debris piles to be larger than a typical trash can.
• No Yard Cleanup Debris: Yard maintenance debris such as leaves, pine straw, small branches, and Christmas trees will not be collected by the debris removal contractors. Residents are encouraged to bag these materials for regular yard waste collection.
• Avoid Structures: Residents are asked to ensure that debris is placed away from water meters, fences, mailboxes, utility lines, and other structures to avoid damage during the removal process.

City officials emphasize that once the final pass is completed in an area, no additional debris collection will be conducted, other than for stumps and root balls. As such, residents are encouraged to take immediate action to prepare their debris for pickup.

For further information, residents can refer to the debris collection map or reach out to the city’s 3-1-1 service.