How to schedule storm debris pickup in Austin

Austin (KXAN) — Austin Resource Recovery said it's changed its rules for brush pickup after Wednesday's powerful storm splintered and toppled trees across the city.

According to the Austin Fire Department, over 700 calls for service were made during the storm. Many of those calls reported downed trees and powerlines.

At a Thursday media briefing, ARR Director Richard McHale said the limit of 15 brush collection receptacles is being waived. Examples of receptacles include lawn and leaf bags, reusable containers and small branch piles.

Those containers, ARR says, should be set out with customer's weekly composting collection bin. It also specified that small branches are considered to be less than 5 feet long and 3 inches in diameter.

Alongside the many homes impacted by this week's storm, McHale said City of Austin buildings were also in need of cleanup. He said ARR teams began scouting for damage the morning after the storm.

"Those teams started going to some city facilities that had some reports of damage, that we were able to get that material cleaned up and removed. Currently, we are doing a damage assessment and our crews are going around the city and evaluating damage," McHale said.

Requirements for Austin Resource Recovery brush pickup

The ARR website specifies that brush collection includes large brush between 5-15 feet long. If longer than 15 feet, branches must be cut down before they're picked up.

Large brush pickup requires an appointment, ARR said. Each customer's household is entitled to three on-demand brush collection appointments per year.

You can schedule an appointment for pickup here or by calling 311 or 512-974-2000.

ARR's set-out guidelines are as follows:

• Place large brush at the curb by 5:30 a.m. on your appointment date.
• Stack the brush loosely in one row along the curb, no more than 15 feet across and no higher than 4 feet, with cut ends facing the street.
• Tree trunks more than 8 inches in diameter should be 3 feet long or less.
• Do not block the sidewalk or extend piles into the street.
• Keep items 5 feet away from your carts, mailbox, fences or walls, water meter, telephone connection box, fire hydrants and parked cars. Do not place any items under low-hanging tree limbs or power lines.
• Items will not be collected if they are in an alley, in front of a vacant lot or in front of a business.