Hurricane debris pickup in Escambia County is not automatic. After a storm, Escambia County, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century decide whether the damage warrants a special debris collection. When it does, the window may be short, and once it closes the county says leftover debris becomes the property owner's responsibility. So the job is simple to describe and hard to do: sort what is ruined into the right piles, put them in the right spot, and do it fast.
Who decides when storm debris gets picked up
The county's cleanup guidance tells residents to follow their regular service schedules after a storm and to watch the local news for changes. That means your normal garbage day keeps going where it can, and any special collection gets announced, not assumed.
Two practical takeaways:
- Start sorting as soon as it is safe, even before a pickup date is announced, so your piles are ready when the trucks come through.
- Commercial customers are told to call their own contracted waste provider. Business waste is not supposed to go on the public right of way.
The five piles Escambia County asks for
The county lists five debris categories and asks residents to keep them separate. Mixed piles slow crews down because each type goes to a different place.
| Pile | What the county puts in it |
|---|---|
| Construction | Furniture, carpet, tile, steel, glass, brick, concrete, asphalt roofing, pipe, drywall, lumber |
| Vegetative | Tree limbs, leaves, logs, pallets and branches |
| White goods | Washers, dryers, refrigerators, ranges, microwaves, water heaters, freezers, small AC units |
| Electronics | TVs, computers, monitors, fax machines, stereos, speakers |
| Household hazardous waste | Cleaning supplies, batteries, lawn chemicals, oils, oil based paints and stains, pesticides |
Notice that the county groups furniture and carpet with construction debris, not in a pile of their own. A waterlogged couch goes in the construction pile.
FEMA's homeowner fact sheet uses six piles instead of five, adding household garbage (spoiled food and packaging), and it suggests photographing damaged items from different angles before they go to the curb so you have a record for an insurance claim. Take the pictures first, then drag things out.
Where to put the piles, and where not to
FEMA's guidance for property owners is specific about placement:
- Place debris away from trees, poles and structures, including fire hydrants and meters.
- Do not block the roadway.
- Never touch, cut or pile debris on downed power lines, even if the power is out.
- If you see cables tangled in debris, leave that part for professionals.
- Wear gloves and a mask when handling debris, and do not burn it.
Check with local officials before placing debris out, since the county and city announce what they will collect and when.
Does FEMA pick up storm debris?
Not directly from your curb. FEMA's fact sheet explains that local governments often dispose of disaster debris that property owners place at the curb for pickup on a scheduled date. In Escambia County, that decision sits with the county, the City of Pensacola and the Town of Century. Questions about a specific storm are best answered by your local emergency management office or the county's storm updates.
What we can haul after a storm, and what we can't
Pelican Haul-Off is a pickup truck and trailer operation, so we are a fit for the household side of storm cleanup, not the structural side.
We can usually take: soaked couches and chairs, mattresses and box springs, dressers, tables and bed frames, and garage clutter like boxes, shelving and old gear. That is helpful when the special collection window has closed, when your street was missed, or when you just want ruined furniture out of the yard before it sits in the sun for another week. Our guide to mattress disposal in Pensacola covers the other options for a wet mattress.
We do not take: roofing, concrete, dirt or construction debris like drywall and lumber, and we do not do whole house cleanouts. Those belong with the county collection or a contractor.
Hazardous items such as paints, chemicals and batteries should not go on the curb unsorted or in a hauler's trailer. Escambia County residents can bring household hazardous waste and electronics to the Perdido Landfill drop off at no charge. As posted in October 2026, those drop off hours are Monday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Hours change, so check the county page before you go. Our household hazardous waste guide lists the limits by item.
If a county or city neighborhood cleanup is scheduled for your area later in the season, that can also take some of what is left.
Get the storm leftovers gone
When the curb crews are done and the soaked furniture is still there, text photos of what you want gone to (850) 273-8546 with your ZIP code and whether there are stairs. We text back a price and the soonest pickup time, and the price is confirmed with you before anything is loaded. Same day pickup happens when the schedule allows, and your first pickup is $20 off if you mention the website. You can read more about how our junk hauling works.