In the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Charlotte County officials have established two sand drop-off sites to assist with the cleanup efforts. According to Charlotte County, residents and contractors can now rid their properties of the flood-deposited sand for free, a move aimed at preventing this sand from being discarded improperly.
Open from the early morning at 7 a.m. until the dusk of 6 p.m. from Monday through Saturday, the designated locations are situated at the north end of Englewood Beach at Chadwick Park, 2100 N. Beach Road in Englewood, and 1 N. Gulf Blvd. on Don Pedro Knight Islands. Despite the community's eagerness to clear their space, you are reminded not to dump the sand onto beaches directly, as state regulations forbid such actions and could lead to fines.
The free service is specifically designed for handling clean sand. Emphasizing environmental considerations, county officials have made it clear that the collected sand will undergo a meticulous cleaning and screening process to eliminate foreign objects like garbage or nails. The purified sand is then slated for further use in various storm recovery projects, turning a byproduct of destruction into an asset for rebuilding and fortification.
The county specifies an important instruction for residents and contractors alike, urging that sandbags should be emptied at the site, but neither full nor empty bags or other containers should be left behind. Misplaced, the sand on the streets from efforts to clean can create unanticipated hazards and undermine the purpose of such initiatives. Let contractors know they can clean up your house and the sand (only sand, no dirt, no muck) can be dropped off without a fee.
