Debris removed to sites across the state

For weeks, the giant piles of post-storm debris collected from Siesta Key and other nearby areas of unincorporated Sarasota County continued to grow at the future site of Siesta Promenade.

The 28-acre site at Stickney Point Road and U.S. 41 — where Benderson Development plans to build a mixed-use development of hotel, retail and 414 apartments — was the staging area before the vegetative, demolition and household debris moved on to their permanent destinations throughout the state. 

Just east of Siesta Key on the mainland, the vacant site proved to be a convenient location for the operations. 

“We were fortunate that we had that property that was not developed yet, and it was perfect because it was very close to Siesta Key and the barrier islands,” said Sarasota County Emergency Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi. “The challenge we will have moving forward, because that property is going to be developed now, is finding areas close by to the devastation.”

So where did all that debris go from there?

The county reduced vegetative debris into mulch and taken to Dakin Natural Soils in Manatee County for further processing into soil amendment products. Crush-It in Nokomis took the concrete to process into new aggregate products. Suncoast Metals in Sarasota took the appliances that did not contain food waste in them for recycling. The county sent mixed debris, including construction debris and household items, to the DRD Landfill and EcoSouth Landfill in Desoto County for burial. 

Sarasota County collected and managed household hazardous materials.

From unincorporated Siesta Key, the county removed 45,415 cubic yards of mixed debris and 32,404 cubic yards of vegetative debris. Figures of debris removal from the northern tip of the key, which is within the city limits, is included in the City of Sarasota's data.

Countywide, debris contractors completed emergency debris removal operations in the unincorporated areas on Jan. 10, meeting the 90-day target completion date approved by the state. In the collection, there were more than 2.3 million cubic yards of vegetative material, household goods and construction and demolition materials. Removal of any material remaining curbside or on private property is now the property owners’ responsibility.

The volume of debris collected by the contractors for the city was 321,239 cubic yards, the equivalent of 10,000 truckloads. That amount was four times the debris removed in the wake of Hurricane Irma. 

According to the city, crews hauled the debris to disposal sites throughout the state.  

Digital Editor Eric Garwood contributed to this story