KELLY FARRELL / Staff

Size doesn't matter anymore. A pile of yard debris on the curb in front of Sunset Cove on Elkcam Circle is permissible under new relaxed guidelines for yard debris cleanup after Tropical Storm Fay. Yard waste may now be set out any time through Sept. 7 due to relief from FEMA. Previous restrictions on the size of the bundle have been lifted unless pick up is desired on recycling day.

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Collier County was included in the Presidential Emergency Declaration for Tropical Storm Fay Friday. This declaration makes federal disaster relief funds for residential storm-related horticultural debris collection available through FEMA and removes earlier restrictions on how the yard debris is bundled.

Residents of the City of Marco Island who have large amounts of storm-related yard debris are asked to pile the storm-related yard waste on the right-of-way in front of their property as soon as possible, according to a prepared press release from Collier County Emergency Services.

County contractors began collecting piles of storm-related yard waste Monday and will continue through Sept. 7.

Residents should pile storm-related yard waste in the right-of-way in front of their property as soon as possible.

Do not place debris piles near mailboxes, parked cars, fire hydrants, street lamps, utility boxes, poles or other obstacles. The contractor will be using heavy lifting equipment to collect the yard waste and placing piles too near a mailbox or other object could result in damage.

Do not use plastic bags for yard waste. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected.

Do not mix garbage, construction or demolition debris with the yard waste.

Horticultural debris must be a result of tropical storm Fay. FEMA monitors will inspect debris piles for compliance. If a debris pile is deemed ineligible because it is non-storm related, it will not be collected.

Residents who are able to prepare small amounts of yard waste for collection on their regularly scheduled yard waste collection day, which is the same day as recycling collection, should follow these standards:

Logs, limbs, branches, and palm fronds no larger than 4-inches in diameter, cut to no longer than 4- foot lengths, and bundled with heavy string or twine into bundles weighing no more than 50 pounds, set curb side for collection.

Leaves, twigs, and smaller items of landscape debris placed into paper bags (no plastic bags accepted) or personal containers, set curb side for collection.

For questions or information regarding the collection of Tropical Storm Fay-related yard waste, call Public Utilities Customer Service 252-2380.