Simsbury Nears Completion of Massive Debris Pick-Up Project

As you shop this holiday, consider that the brush collected in Simsbury would completely fill every square foot of Westfarms mall to a height of six feet. Now consider that the town is in the final stages of its storm cleanup.

“Our brush collection contractor has reportedly cleared the brush from every street in town,” said Tom Roy, Director of Public Works. “We are working very closely with our contractor and residents to be sure no eligible piles of debris were missed. If residents have questions, please direct them to our debris hotline at 860-264-5581.” 

Roy added that the follow-up work, along with the removal of dangerous trees and limbs, will continue into the weekend. 

The town will have 25 tree trucks working on removing all of the dangerous hangers starting tomorrow — more than double the number of tree trucks previously available for the project. Roy reported that, “to date, they have removed hangers from over 4,500 trees.” Crews working on the hangers are placing the limbs on the side of the road to be picked up by collection crews. Notices have been placed on these piles explaining that they will be picked up and also asking that no additional brush be added. All of the collection work is expected to be completed by Sunday or Monday at the latest.

A debris pick-up “fact sheet,” designed to put the enormity of the brush collection project in perspective, is attached and has been added here:

Simsbury’s Brush Collection, Putting 275,000 cubic yards into perspective

Trucks: If the town had used pickup trucks to remove the debris, it would have taken more than 50,000 loads in a full size pickup truck.  

If you lined up the 50,000 pickup trucks, the line would extend from Simsbury to the state of Maine.  

Sports fans: The brush collected in Simsbury would completely fill the lower level of Rentschler Field in East Hartford. Or cover the average 18-hole golf course with a foot of debris.

It has been a lot of work, but the town is in the final stages of this truly massive effort.

“This may be helpful in spreading the word that we did a good job,” said Roy of the comparisons. “We collected far more debris than any other town in the Farmington Valley and our collection rates of 17,000 to 18,000 cubic yards per day were nearly double that of our neighboring towns.” 

Farmington Valley towns, including Simsbury, Avon, Farmington and Granby, were among the hardest hit by the October storm.