Lafourche to begin final storm debris pickup Monday

Two months after Hurricane Gustav swept through Lafourche Parish, debris from the storm is still being collected.

According to the Lafourche Parish Office of Emergency Preparedness, a total of 223,845 cubic yards of vegetative debris and 21,500 cubic yards of mixed debris have been collected as of Nov. 2.

Officials urge residents with storm-related debris to place the material curbside as the collection process enters its final stages.

The contractors hired by the parish to clean up storm debris are slated to begin Monday and finish by Nov. 23.

Brennan Matherne, with the parish’s Office of Emergency Preparedness, said homeowners and contractors are responsible for removing debris resulting from various repairs such as roofing, tree trimming and remodeling.

SWDI only collects regular household garbage – food refuse, diapers, newspapers and waste – in cans or bags, he said. SWDI will not collect storm-generated debris such as tree limbs, fencing, roofing and other building materials.

Curbside debris should be placed in separate piles, Matherne said.

Storm debris can include appliances, construction and demolition materials from house gutting and vegetative debris.

Mixed debris – mattresses, furniture, carpet and drywall – and appliances or electronics will be the last material that will be picked up from the side of the road, he noted. Again, residents are asked to place the items in piles accordingly.

Matherne said regular household garbage, cut grass and other bagged waste should be placed curbside no earlier than 4 p.m. the day prior to either of the regularly scheduled garbage collection days.