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Burke County nears completion of roadside debris pickup after Hurricane Helene
Summary
Burke County reports about 220,000 cubic yards of storm debris collected and says right-of-way pickups are about 85%–90% complete; contractors’ collection contract must finish by March 18 and residents are urged to register remaining piles via a hotline or QR code.
Burke County Manager Brian Eppley said the county has collected about 220,000 cubic yards of debris from public rights of way after Hurricane Helene and is roughly 85%–90% finished with roadside collection.
The update matters because the contractor’s collection contract ends March 18, and county officials are asking residents to move remaining debris to the right of way and register their address so crews can complete second and third pass pickups.
Eppley told attendees that the county has concentrated on right-of-way debris removal since immediate life‑safety and infrastructure work ended after the storm. "I've come today to provide an update on debris collection efforts following the tragedy of Hurricane Helene here in Burke County," he said, noting the county is about 140 days past the storm. He said crews have staged material at three primary debris sites around the county.
A map on screen and on the county website divides Burke County into zones with dates showing when contractors will work in each area. Eppley said there is a QR code and a debris hotline that residents can use to register the location and type of debris at their property so the contractor can pick it up. He urged residents to move remaining material to the right of way and to share the information with neighbors.
Eppley said the county is beginning many second and third passings across the county and that, after March 18, contractors will remain locally to process material already collected but will no longer collect debris from rights of way. "The end of our contract is quickly approaching," he said.
There were no formal votes or actions recorded in the briefing. The update provided operational milestones (amount collected, estimated completion percentage, number of staging sites) and instructions for residents; it did not authorize new spending or change policy.
County officials listed these focal points for residents: move remaining debris to the right of way, register your address using the QR code or hotline, and watch the county map for scheduled collection dates in your zone. The county asked the public to share the information to help finish recovery efforts.
