SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - Twelve months ago, after three hurricanes, debris trucks were running non-stop, removing trees and the wreckage from our homes and lives. Where did it all go? And how much did it cost? Most of the work has been done. But the final costs are still climbing.

So far, Sarasota County has reported a total of 2.4 million cubic yards of debris collected from the 2024 storms in 90 days, as required by Governor DeSantis. Manatee County just updated their total to 4.8 million cubic yards.

Where did it go? Contractors take the debris to other counties or states that accept trash, charging “tipping fees” for the service. Major importers of debris include Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Indiana. Landfills make a lot of money collecting tipping fees.

The Good news: FEMA reimbursed

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