Our Views: Take care with debris

There are many ways to measure storm damage here in south Louisiana, but surely one of the most-visible signs of a storm’s destruction are the piles of debris left at curbsides after the storm has passed.

By that measure alone, Hurricane Isaac didn’t wreak as much havoc as Hurricane Gustav did in 2008. While Gustav translated into soaring piles of limbs and trees outside many homes as residents cleared their yards, the curbside piles left after Isaac have, in most instances, seemed much smaller.

That should mean quicker collection of curbside debris in the Baton Rouge area as the area gets back to normal.

Residents should take care to separate piles of vegetation from other kinds of refuse, such as construction and demolition debris. Vegetation and other kinds of debris cannot be mixed for the contractors who have been hired to collect storm-related refuse.

We’d also like to remind residents that debris piles can be a distraction for motorists who are backing out of driveways. We urge drivers to take special care and drive more slowly through local neighborhoods while debris piles are still present. Pedestrians, bicyclists and other motorists can be partially — and sometimes completely — obscured by debris piles.

Meanwhile, we look forward to the day, perhaps soon, when the debris piles are gone.

Comments

1) Comment by tradewinns - 08/09/2012

i din't know it was recycled, thats a good thing, thanks.

2) Comment by Noel Hammatt - 08/09/2012

@tradewinns: one of the reasons for making sure that the vegetative debris is NOT mixed with construction debris and household trash is that it it almost totally recycled. For many, many years woody debris has been mulched and used to beautiful our city, and, for the most part, has not made its way into our municipal landfills. You raise some excellent points!

3) Comment by tradewinns - 07/09/2012

if i reall, storm vegitation is put in a landfill. that is a total waste of space. why cain't the smaller stuff be burned and then disposed of and the larger pieces of wood set aside for prison labor to size and split for use as firewood? we always hear about the horrors of our landfills and garbage. this would save space, give prisoners something constructive to do, and save money for the taxpayer who can use firewood. if it does cost more intially, then charge what it cost to bring the timber to a central (or more) space. don't make a profit, just reimburse the cost.

4) Comment by CountryBoysCanSurvive - 07/09/2012

I guess since zip code 70791 voted down "Kip the Drip's" bus tax our storm debris won't be picked up until last...way to go Holden, I'll smile when I pull the lever for Mike.