Tips from Waste Management on pre- and post-storm preparation

After a severe tropical storm or hurricane, garbage and recycling collection and debris removal are vital to beginning local recovery and revitalization.

To prepare prior to advancing storms, all residents and businesses should take actions to secure their garbage cans and other recycling and trash containers in a safe location. Remember to tie down or secure all loose items on the property that can become unsafe in high winds.

If a tropical storm or hurricane does directly impact your area, there’s one way you can help. Simply remember to put household garbage such as food scraps and diapers – everything you ordinarily throw away – into trash containers or bags. Then place them at the curb separate from storm debris like large household debris, trees and limbs. By separating your household garbage from storm debris, you help your street get picked up more quickly and safely.

Waste Management also uses various social media tools to assure that local residents can find up-to-date information in the event of service disruptions resulting from challenging post-storm conditions. Once a storm strikes and is severe enough to warrant community updates, turn to www.wm.com for timely information about service. You can also find community information from Waste Management at www.facebook.com/wastemanagement or follow the company on Twitter at twitter.com/wastemanagement.

After a storm, Waste Management works to restart waste and recycling collection and operations as soon as possible on streets that are passable. Reminders to separate household garbage from storm debris are issued. The company expands its routes to additional areas as more streets become clear of debris and other impediments.

“Following a powerful tropical storm or hurricane strike, one of the most essential needs for a community to begin recovery is the reliable return of its most vital services,” said Dawn McCormick, Director of Communications for Waste Management. “That’s why we spend a lot of time in the weeks prior to the start of hurricane season focusing within our company on annual hurricane preparation and recovery planning.”

As part of its hurricane planning and pre-storm preparation, Waste Management puts its hurricane response plan into action as soon as a storm becomes a verified threat to the area.

Waste Management’s investment in emergency and storm recovery preparedness includes stockpiling of supplies and needed rapid-response equipment, including communications technologies and response vehicles. The effort includes mobile “command centers” that include overnight functionality plus satellite voice and data-enabled systems. These are stationed in Georgia and Texas but can be mobilized to be accessible anywhere in the Southeast following a storm’s impact.

“Our value to a community is not always apparent unless collection stops,” said McCormick. “Doing everything we can to prepare before a storm, and return to service and help local residents recover after a crisis, is what being a good community partner is all about.”

More tips for hurricane preparedness are available on www.ready.gov.