Our thoughts are with the communities currently facing the challenges of flooding. Dealing with flood debris can be overwhelming, but CSWD is here to help you by offering some tips on how to dispose of it safely and affordably.
Options for specific types of debris:
“Clean” wood: This includes lumber that has never been painted, stained, treated, or glued, as well as natural wood like trees, limbs, and brush.
Options
- McNeil Wood & Yard Waste Depot in Burlington. (No fee)
- CSWD Drop-Off Centers in Essex, Milton, and Williston (clean wood is NOT accepted at our Burlington, Hinesburg, or South Burlington locations).
Yard and garden debris: This refers to non-woody plant material or twigs measuring less than 1/2″ in diameter.
Options
- CSWD Organics Recycling Facility (home of Green Mountain Compost) in Williston (No fee)
- McNeil Wood & Yard Waste Depot in Burlington (No fee)
- Any CSWD Drop-Off Center except the Burlington location. Limit: 3 cubic yards (equivalent of one pickup load) per day (No fee)
Food scraps: Spoiled or contaminated food scraps should be removed from their original packaging before placing them in collection bins. Recyclable packaging should be placed in your blue bin, while all other packaging is considered trash.
Options
- Small quantities of any food or food scraps (including meat, bones & dairy), and beverages may be dropped off in the food scrap bins at CSWD Drop-Off Centers. With trash – No fee. Without trash – $1.00 per 5-gal container up to 30 gallons.
- Large quantities (over 30 gallons) should be brought directly to our Organics Recycling Facility (home of Green Mountain Compost).
Hazardous material: This category includes paints, solvents, pesticides, fertilizers, and other similar items.
Options
- CSWD’s Environmental Depot by appointment only. The Depot is open only to residents and businesses of Chittenden County. No fee for residents; some fees apply for businesses. It is especially important to bring hazardous materials to the Depot if they have been sitting in water, as the containers may be compromised. Please ensure safe packaging and transportation.
Electronics: This includes items like printers, computers, televisions, cell phones, etc.
Options
- Less than seven items accepted at any CSWD Drop-Off Center except the Burlington location. More than a cubic yard requires an appointment. Call 802-872-8100.
Scrap metal: Scrap metal is banned from landfill disposal in Vermont.
Options
- All CSWD Drop-Off Centers except Burlington. Items made of at least 80% metal qualify (fluids must be drained).
- Local scrap metal dealers also accept metal items.
Trash: This refers to any item that is not recyclable or banned from the landfill.
Options
- Rent a dumpster from a trash hauler. Remember, the more you separate for recycling, the smaller the trash container you’ll need to rent and the fewer trips you’ll make.
- Haul it yourself. CSWD Drop-Off Centers accept only about a cubic yard of any one type of material per trip. If you have more trash than that, it might be more cost-effective to bring it to other facilities, where large loads are accepted.
For more information on how to dispose of other items, visit our A to Z List or call our main number at 802-872-8100. We hope these options provide you with some guidance for safe and affordable disposal of flood debris. If you have any further questions or need additional assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out. CSWD is here to help!
