Lee County Solid Waste garbage collection will resume Monday, Oct. 3, on the normally scheduled day for all routes in Lee County franchise areas that are accessible to collection trucks. This collection is for household garbage only − everyday trash items and all spoiled food. Collection of recycling will resume at a later time.

Storm debris is collected separately from household garbage. Storm debris assessment is already underway throughout the county and storm debris contractors have been mobilized. Collections will begin in the next few days, giving residents time to get storm debris to the curb.

Please use the following guidelines so that work crews can quickly and efficiently remove storm debris from your property.

  • Most Important– Please set storm debris at the curb away from your normal household trash and recycling; it will be collected and documented separately.
  • Place storm debris at the curb in three separate piles: garbage, yard waste and building debris. Federal Emergency Management Agency rules require documentation of the volume and type of debris collected to reimburse the county for storm cleanup.
  • Garbage must be placed in a 40-gallon can or heavy mil plastic bag each weighing no more than 50 pounds. If you have a larger county-provided container for automated garbage collection, you may use that as well.
  • Yard waste does not need to be bundled after the storm. Place it in piles that can easily be managed by collection personnel with a claw truck.
  • To expedite collection, do not place anything beneath low-hanging obstacles like trees or power lines or near things like fire hydrants or mail boxes.
  • Food must be removed from any appliance set at the curb. Inedible food should be placed with the garbage

For private or gated communities –

FEMA regulations require that private or gated communities have a current Right of Entry and Indemnification form on file with Lee County before any disaster debris recovery crews are allowed to enter the community. Lee County has an easy, online process for submitting the necessary paperwork.

Forms are available at https://leegis.leegov.com/ROE for communities located within unincorporated Lee County. If you are unsure if your community has a current Right of Entry form on file, please have your community association manager or home-owner association president email solidwaste@leegov.com.

Storm recovery status is updated daily on the county website www.leegov.com. Regular updates can also be found at Lee County Government Facebook. For solid waste collection questions, call 239-533-8000.