EC Georgia News

Augusta's contractor, CERES, has started debris collection in Augusta-Richmond County following Hurricane Helene. The collection includes non-bagged yard debris placed on the city's right-of-way. Residents are advised not to place debris on roadways or block driveways. The types of debris being collected include branches, limbs, trees, and trunks without a requirement for cut length.

Residents should ensure that debris is kept away from utility poles, low-hanging lines, water meters, and mailboxes while leaving space for trash cans to avoid disrupting regular garbage collection.

In the coming days, CERES will address leaning trees, heavily damaged trees, and hanging limbs. Stumps will be left temporarily and removed later in the project. Trees fallen from private property into city right-of-way will be cut at the line by CERES; remaining portions must be moved by property owners for subsequent collection.

The contractor is prohibited from entering private property to remove debris under any circumstances. Exceptions include:

- Bagged waste is not eligible for pick-up by CERES but will be collected during normal garbage service.

- Construction or demolition debris will not be picked up at this stage. Mixing these with vegetative debris can slow down removal efforts significantly. Guidance for other types of debris will follow once vegetative collection concludes.

CERES prioritizes areas hardest hit where roadways and underground infrastructure like water lines and fire hydrants have been affected. The goal is to complete all debris removal within 90 days. Specific street timeframes cannot be provided at this time; however, advance notice of the "final push" before completion will be given.

For media inquiries regarding this topic, contact Chiquita Richardson at 706-825-1076.