The Short Answer
Storm debris goes in a dumpster by type and by weight. Sort limbs and brush from building materials, tarp the load before rain and size the container for the heaviest material. A 20-yard fits most single-lot cleanups, and a 30 or 40-yard fits a large lot or a damaged building. We deliver the container and you load it.
What Hurricane Ian Did in Punta Gorda
The National Hurricane Center's tropical cyclone report records what Hurricane Ian did near Punta Gorda. The center of Ian's eye made landfall near Punta Gorda at an estimated 125 knots, about 144 mph. An airport weather station in Punta Gorda reported a peak gust of 117 knots, about 135 mph, before it stopped reporting. The report says at least 200 homes were destroyed in Charlotte County and that the Peace and Myakka Rivers reached record levels. A City of Punta Gorda spokesperson told Fox 4 that the city aimed to have most vegetative and construction debris picked up by December 16.
Sort Storm Debris Before You Load
Sorting storm debris saves weight and money. The categories below load differently.
| Debris | Where it goes | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Limbs, palm fronds, brush | Yard waste dumpster | Bulky and light until wet |
| Fencing, lumber, siding | Construction dumpster | Mixed building debris |
| Roofing and shingles | Construction dumpster, size by weight | Heavy; tighter weight caps |
| Wet drywall, insulation, carpet | Construction or cleanout dumpster | Heavy when soaked |
| Paint, batteries, bulbs, chemicals | Not in the dumpster | Prohibited at the county landfill |
| Appliances and furniture | Cleanout dumpster | Bulky |
Our yard waste dumpster and construction dumpster rental pages cover the two main loads.
Which Dumpster Fits Storm Cleanup
Which dumpster fits depends on the lot and the damage. A single lot with fallen limbs and a damaged fence fits a 20-yard, and CustomTruck lists large remodels and 3,000 square feet of shingles under that size. A large lot or a damaged building fits a 30 or 40-yard, and CustomTruck lists large water or fire remediation under the 40-yard. Dropcurb lists 2 to 3 tons included for a 20-yard and 4 to 6 tons for a 40-yard. The dumpster sizes page lists them all.
Storm Debris Weight and Disposal Cost
Storm debris weighs more than it looks, because water soaks into wood, drywall and insulation. The Charlotte County Landfill charges $49.88 per ton for waste generated in the county, and Dropcurb lists overage at about $50 to $150 per extra ton nationally. A tarp over the load keeps rain from adding weight, and a smaller container for the heavy material keeps the ticket down. If your repair has a building permit, give us the number when you order, because the landfill bills construction debris without one at $99.74 per ton.
