Local

Hurricane Irma: Contractor pay slowing down storm debris removal process

ORLANDO, Fla. — Brian Lombard has a pile of debris from Hurricane Irma in front of his home, like most Orlando homeowners.

“I’m surprised I haven’t seen much headway on (the pickup),” he said.

Read: Central Florida still dealing with removal of Hurricane Irma debris

The debris removal process, which the city says will cost between $5 and $10 million, is not quick, with streets still littered with debris more than two weeks after the storm ripped through Central Florida.

Emails obtained by Channel 9’s Shannon Butler show part of the holdup is related to money.

Read: Officials say Irma debris could linger in Florida for months

Debris removal in Florida and Texas has most debris removal contractors stretched thin, so resources are hard to come by.

Ashbritt, the company Orlando contacted to pick up the debris, is being paid $7 per yard for hauling—but the emails show subcontractors are being paid around $5 per yard.

Read: Hurricane Irma aftermath: Trash, debris pickup information

A project manager wrote in one of the emails that it’s difficult to get some haulers to subcontract with Ashbritt because “these rates are not good enough for them.”

The project manager also noted that cities like Miami are paying much more than Orlando’s rate for debris removal, attracting haulers to the more lucrative work in South Florida.

Miami is paying contractors around $15 per yard.

The shortage of contractors is contributing to the sluggish pace of debris collection.

Ashbritt did not return requests for comment.

Seminole County voted Tuesday to up the price to $15 per yard for its contactor.

Shannon Butler

Shannon Butler, WFTV.com

Shannon joined the Eyewitness News team in 2013.