St. Charles to host $60,000 flood debris collection

St. Charles is holding a special debris collection three days next week allowing residents to get rid of any possessions ruined by the recent flood.

City officials announced Advanced Disposal will come through the city next Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday to collect flood debris. The additional service will cost $60,000.

The collection is strictly for flood-related items. Both Advanced Disposal and city staff will monitor the items placed outside for pickup to ensure they are damaged by flood water. Non-flood debris will not be collected.

Items must be placed on the curb before 6 a.m. The special collection will be done on the same days as residents' regular trash collection. Once the trash collectors come through a neighborhood, the workers will not return. And flood debris that misses the collection must be removed by the resident it belongs to, city staff said.

Certain items, by law, will not be collected. Because waste haulers cannot dispose of electronics and home appliances in landfills, they must be taken elsewhere. Electronics can be taken to the electronics recycling container at the city's Public Works facility at 1405 S. 7th Avenue. No hazardous waste, including paints or auto fluids, will be accepted. Also, no fluorescent bulbs, liquids, gases or construction materials will be collected. Tires and yard waste will also be ignored.

Any containers used to hold the flood debris that residents wish to keep should be marked “Do not throw can away” or else they might be taken.

For more information, contact the public works department at (630) 377-4405, or visit stcharlesil.gov.