Cape Coral has completed its final pass of Hurricane Irma debris removal. Approximately 375,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed from residential streets. Canal cleanup continues and more than 38,000 cubic yards of debris has been removed from canals. All waterways will be cleared of debris in January.
City inspectors and debris management monitors will continue to perform inspections to ensure all hurricane debris is picked up. Tree stumps are classified separately for reimbursement purposes and will be removed last. Any new debris placed curbside must be prepared in accordance with the normal Waste Pro pick-up guidelines.
The public debris site is now open to the public, seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., for free mulch. Cape Coral residency is not required. The site is located near Pine Island Road and Andalusia Boulevard. This is a self-serve operation and anyone taking mulch will be required to self-load. However, the City will assist any large commercial vehicles designed for hauling materials, by appointment, please call 239-574-0751.
Be advised that the mulch is not the same quality of decorative mulch that can be purchased from landscape stores. Anyone wishing to use the mulch will be doing so at their own risk and must be aware that this material may contain seeds from invasive and non-native plants (i.e. Brazilian Pepper and Australian Pine). Although a remote risk, this material may also contain spores from Ganoderma, a fungus impacting palms.
The remaining debris sites are still being used by contractors who are chipping hurricane debris. The mulch from those sites is being hauled to and spread on City-owned properties, which will save the City on the disposal costs associated with hauling mulch to a landfill. The debris site on Skyline Boulevard is expected to be cleared by the end of the year.
If hurricane debris that was placed curbside prior to the beginning of the second pass (November 13) has not been picked up, please contact the 311 call center. Dial 3-1-1 or email 311@capecoral.net. For additional information, including Waste Pro pick-up guidelines and directions to the public site for free mulch, please refer to the City’s Post Irma Information page at www.capecoral.net.
