Updates and additional information will be available on the McDowell County Website.

Debris Collection, What You Need To Know

How do I know if my road is a NCDOT primary or secondary road? You can search the NCDOT Database for secondary roads. Or you can view a map of all NCDOT maintained roadways.

Are there any size requirements for vegetative debris? No, there are no size requirements for vegetative storm debris. No additional processing is needed for size reduction. Just make sure to place at the DOT right-of-way (ROW) and USACE will collect debris.

What about mud/soil? Mud/soil should be pushed or piled on the roadsides for future collection.

USACE came to my community, but they haven’t collected my debris, why? The first phase of the clean-up process includes a USACE debris refinement team, these teams will arrive prior to pick-up to ensure each home has their disaster related debris properly sorted. Even after pick-up has begun, there may be multiple teams that collect debris from your ROW over multiple days. To make the process quick and efficient there will be separate trucks for each category of eligible debris. These trucks may arrive at different times in the clean-up process.

Will they pick up my bagged household trash? No, USACE & AshBritt will not collect bagged household trash. Please continue to use your regular waste disposal services for these items. If you typically have city or town pickup, they should be running their usual routes; please verify with your local municipality. For those who utilize county disposal sites or the landfill, these services will remain available.

Resident Instructions: Residents in these communities should place storm debris within 10 feet of the right-of-way on any primary or secondary road. Be sure to separate debris by type: vegetative, construction materials, appliances, electronics, and hazardous waste. Please note that bagged household trash will not be picked up by debris removal crews; all bagged trash will continue to be collected through regular routes or should be taken to the landfill.

Thank you for helping our crews work efficiently and safely as we restore our community.

MCDOWELL COUNTY DEBRIS FAQ

In the coming days and weeks, The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will be working to collect Hurricane Helene related residential debris from

roadsides throughout McDowell County. This is a free program.

How do I contact USACE to pick up my debris?

There is no need to contact anyone to receive this service. Just sort your debris by type and place within 10 feet of the right of way. Debris teams will conduct pickup community-by-community throughout the entire county.

When will USACE be in my area picking up debris?

Updates on scheduling and timing will be communicated through McDowell County Emergency Management social media channels and traditional media (newspaper and radio).

Where should I take my debris?

Residents should not take debris anywhere. The county has hired a contractor to handle the collection of residential debris. Simply sort the debris and move to the right of way.

Are there any size requirement for vegetative debris?

No, there are no size requirements for vegetative storm debris. No additional processing is needed for size reduction. Just make sure to place at the DOT right-of-way and USACE will collect debris.

USACE came to my community, but they haven’t collected my debris, why?

The first phase of the clean-up process includes a USACE debris refinement team, these teams will arrive prior to pick-up to ensure each home has their disaster related debris properly sorted. Even after pick-up has begun, there may be multiple teams that collect debris from your ROW over multiple days. To make the process quick and efficient there will be separate trucks for each category of eligible debris. These trucks may arrive at different times in the clean-up process.

As of November 4th, 6 debris collection trucks are deployed throughout the county collecting debris along the NC Department of Transportation right-of-ways. Additional trucks and routes will be added tentatively this week and will be announced as soon as they are live. This week, efforts will expand to US 221 North, NC 80 and the City of Marion. As debris collection trucks make their first pass, it is important for citizens to remember that these trucks will make multiple passes along the right of way. You do not need to place all of your debris out at one time.

As of the end of the workday on November 1, AshBritt has collected 3,053 cubic yards of debris in the Town of Old Fort. To put this in perspective, that’s enough to fill approximately 150 standard dump trucks, each holding around 20 cubic yards of material. Nine trucks are currently dedicated to storm debris removal in McDowell County, operating daily with additional resources planned to join in the coming days and weeks. The primary focus remains on the Town of Old Fort, one of the hardest-hit areas, while McDowell County’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) works closely with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to expand removal efforts to other communities in the near future. William Kehler, Director of Emergency Services, emphasized the impact this operation is having in Old Fort: “As debris continues to be cleared from heavily impacted areas, we’re seeing hope restored for residents and businesses in Old Fort. This progress is a crucial step forward in our community’s journey to recovery.” Residents are reminded to place storm debris within 10 feet of the right-of-way on both primary and secondary roads to ensure it can be safely accessed and collected. Multiple passes will be made along every DOT right-of-way to ensure thorough removal, and residents may notice different trucks collecting various types of debris.