Trash, recycling and debris rules after San Angelo floods: what to expect

City public works and emergency officials gave residents practical instructions for trash, recycling and debris staging after the July 4 flooding in San Angelo.

Shane Kelton, executive director of public works, said Republic Services’ Hughes Street facility suffered substantial flood damage and many collection vehicles were submerged, producing service disruptions. "There will be some disruption in your trash service, for the next week, week and a half," Kelton said, and he asked residents to continue placing carts at their normal schedule; if a cart was lost, residents should call city customer service at (325) 657-4323 to be added to the replacement list.

Kelton said recycling services were suspended for approximately a week to 10 days and advised that residents may use recycling carts for standard household trash while services are curtailed. If a bin is not available, he said residents should bag trash and place it at the curb; Republic Services crews will do hand pickup if necessary.

On debris, Kelton urged strict compliance with FEMA sorting rules to preserve reimbursement eligibility: separate household hazardous waste, electronics, appliances/white goods, construction materials (sheetrock, roofing, carpet), and vegetation into distinct piles at the back of the curb or street edge. "If it's not sorted, we will not be able to take it," he said. The city will not open a central drop-off; the landfill was closed to the public and expected to remain closed about a week to a week-and-a-half while the city restores operations.

Kelton said curbside debris pickup through a contracted debris-management company would likely start in 7 to 10 days to allow homeowners time to retrieve items and stage them properly. The city will prioritize hardest-hit neighborhoods and commercial critical services such as hospitals, nursing homes and restaurants when scheduling pickups.

For road and safety issues, Kelton reiterated that barricades should be obeyed, especially in slow-draining Lakeview and northern neighborhoods, and asked the public to report damaged roadways, open manholes or other city-asset damage through the city's July 4 webpage.