Omaha tornado: County extends fee waiver as landfill becomes congested

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The landfill is seeing 500 tons of debris come in every day.

“Early on there were a lot of individual loads, pickups, small trailers, and things like that,” said Kent Holm, director of Douglas County Environmental Services.

Plenty of trucks and trailers are still coming through, and it’s causing some congestion problems. One way the county is trying to help is by waiving all dumping fees until May 11.

Officials expect the landfill will continue to be busy as people rebuild after 19 tornadoes swept through the area on April 26.

“I think the more that we can do to take some of our worries off of them and concerns that will benefit them in the long run,” Douglas County Commissioner Chris Rodgers said.

TORNADO RECOVERY

Where to dispose of debris from recent storms

Several debris collection sites are available in Douglas and Washington counties.

Two Rivers State Recreation Area in Waterloo has opened as a secondary tree debris drop-off site.

How to help — and find help

Here are ways you can assist those in Nebraska and Iowa who are recovering from tornadoes that hit on Friday, April 26.

"Thank you everybody" is seend spray painted on a damaged home Monday in Elkhorn. The area was...

The county is also working on other temporary ways to relieve congestion.

“We’re going to do some things differently with staging areas and trying to minimize the amount of congestion at the landfill and look at potentially how to separate the debris and have recyclable opportunities that would normally go to the landfill,” Holm said.

Holm is also asking those outside of city limits to put their debris on the curb, noting that tree debris should be taken to other debris dumping sites, like the Two Rivers Recreation Area, located off Highway 92 and 264th Street. That site is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Holm also said advised knowing what you can’t dump — like appliances and hazardous materials.

More assistance is being made available to tornado victims in Douglas County.

Pheasant Point Landfill has incurred over $100,000 in costs by waiving fees from disposal, but the county hopes they will get FEMA reimbursement.

The county is also asking homeowners who need help covering what insurance will not to apply for FEMA funds. For more information call 1-800-621-3362.

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