ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A resident in the Coquina Key area of St. Petersburg says she is concerned about the air quality in her neighborhood because of a nearby hurricane debris dump site.
Celesta Carter's home of one year is situated right next to one of the city’s hurricane debris dump sites.
According to Carter, since it opened shortly after the storms, she has had trouble breathing, as has her 10-year-old dog, Jemma.
“I had to take her to the vet because she was having such a bad cough,” Carter said. “I mean, literally, you're out on the porch and right catty corner to me. You can see all of the mounds of debris and you can see to the right the debris is not yet mulched. And if you look to the left, that's all of the moss.”
According to Carter, every day there are dozens of trucks bringing debris to the site with some of it being ground into mulch.
“The residue has been coating everything,” Carter said. “I pulled all of my outdoor furniture and everything that I can that would kind of collect the grime.”
That residue is visible on her welcome mat and around her patio.
“We're breathing it actively on a daily basis. And now for weeks on end, and possibly weeks to come,” Carter said. “As they're picking up the piles with the tractor, you can see the debris that's becoming airborne and blowing right this way.”
According to the city, this site is one of four the city contracts out.
The project manager at the Coquina Key site told Spectrum News that only organic materials are mulched there.
When asked about what’s being dumped at the site, and if there are any potential health impacts for nearby residents, a city spokesperson emailed the following statement:
“In the aftermath of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, the City of St. Petersburg is actively working to tackle the collection of an unprecedented amount of storm-related debris. City crews have responded swiftly, launching a comprehensive clean-up operation with an all-hands-on-deck approach, including activating the City's disaster debris contractors and monitoring company.
The location you’re referencing is one of four storm debris management sites (DMS) operated by the City of St. Petersburg’s debris removal contractor. The sites assist with expediting travel from homes/properties to DMS locations for City/contractor debris collection trucks. Shortening the travel time for these debris collection trucks assists the City in meeting our 90-day deadline (January 11, 2025) to pick up storm debris. The Coquina Key Plaza site only permits nontoxic materials at the site, which is monitored by a separate organization to ensure compliance with state and federal regulations.
"These DMS locations will be operational until mid-January 2025 and are only to be used by City trucks and the City’s debris contractors. Individuals who think they are feeling ill because of the debris management sites can contact Charlie MacPherson at (626) 470-2439 or charlie.macpherson@tetratech.com. For more information on the City’s debris collection efforts, please visit StPete.org/Debris.”
While Carter said she is happy to hear the materials are being tested and monitored, she still wishes dump sites like the one next door weren’t so close to homes.
“There are sites in Pinellas County that are made to process this kind of waste, that are not so adjacent, immediately adjacent to residential dwellings,” she said.
Even so, she said she is thankful for the work being done to pick up the damage, but she just wants the dust to settle soon so things can get back to normal.