How to Get Rid of Storm Debris in Longview, TX
East Texas storms can drop limbs, whole trees, and roof damage across a yard in minutes. KLTV reported that debris from Longview’s 2019 straight line windstorm and later storms filled the city’s compost site with trees and limbs.
This guide covers your options for storm debris cleanup in Longview, what the city will and will not pick up, and when a dumpster may be the better fit.
Quick answer: Longview residents have three main options. Small bundled limbs go out with weekly yard waste, up to 8 cubic yards a week. Bigger brush and limbs can go to the free city compost site at 2020 Swinging Bridge Rd., or out with a scheduled bulky pickup. For big jobs, mixed debris, or roof damage, a roll off dumpster lets you clear it all at once.
Step 1: Make the Yard Safe Before You Clean Up
Cleanup can wait an hour. Your safety cannot.
Stay away from downed power lines. Treat every downed line as live. Do not touch limbs or fences that are touching a line. Call your electric provider to report it.
Leave trees on lines to the pros. Utility crews or a licensed tree service should handle any tree resting on a power line.
Watch for hanging limbs. Broken limbs caught high in pines and oaks can fall without warning. Look up before you work under a tree.
Use chainsaws with care. Wear eye protection, gloves, and sturdy boots. Never cut above shoulder height or alone.
Check the roof from the ground. Note missing shingles or holes, but leave roof climbing to a roofer.
Step 2: Know Your City of Longview Options
If you have City of Longview sanitation service, you have three main ways to handle storm brush. Each one has rules, so check them before you drag limbs to the curb.
Weekly yard waste collection
The city picks up yard waste weekly on your regular trash day (City of Longview). The rules:
- Limbs must be under 3 inches thick and under 4 feet long.
- Brush and limbs must be bundled and tied. Each bundle can be no more than 3 cubic feet.
- Leaves and small debris go in paper bags or a container labeled “Yard Waste.” Plastic bags are not collected for free.
- The limit is 8 cubic yards per week.
- Set it out after 6:00 p.m. the night before and by 7:30 a.m. on pickup day. Do not put it in the ditch.
Bulky item pickup
For bigger limbs, schedule a bulky pickup at 903 237 1250 or through the CitySend app. You get 4 free pickups a year, up to 8 cubic yards each. Brush can be up to 10 feet long and 24 inches across, and it must be kept apart from other bulky items.
The city compost site
Longview residents can drop off eligible trees, limbs, leaves, and grass for free at the Compost Site, 2020 Swinging Bridge Rd. It is open Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (City of Longview). Bring your water bill to show you live in the city (KLTV). Limbs and logs can be up to 10 feet long and 24 inches across (City of Longview). Do not leave plastic bags at the site. Non residents and commercial haulers pay a drop off fee.
What the city will not take
Stumps, root balls, roofing, dirt, and construction debris are not part of free yard waste service. Construction debris is not accepted at the compost site, and roofing and dirt are excluded from bulky pickup. After a big storm, city crews can also fall behind, so pickup may take longer than usual. Call the Sanitation Department at 903 237 1250 for current storm updates.
Step 3: Decide If You Need a Dumpster
City service works well for a few bundles of limbs. A roll off dumpster may make more sense when:
- You have more than 8 cubic yards of debris
- Large limbs or downed trees need to go, and cutting everything into 4 foot bundles is not practical
- Storm debris is mixed with fencing, shed parts, siding, or roofing, which the city will not take with yard waste
- You do not have a truck or trailer to haul to the compost site
- You want to clear everything in one load instead of waiting on several city pickups
What size dumpster for storm cleanup?
| Storm damage | Size that often works |
|---|---|
| A few large limbs and brush | 10 to 15 yard |
| One or two downed trees, cut up | 20 yard |
| Several trees, or limbs plus a fallen fence | 30 yard |
| Roof damage from a fallen tree | 20 to 30 yard, depending on debris volume and weight |
Loose brush is light. The EPA lists uncompacted mixed yard waste at about 250 pounds per cubic yard, so brush usually fills a dumpster before it hits the weight limit. Wet logs and roofing are much heavier. Cut limbs short and lay them flat so they pack tight.
See our yard waste dumpster page and dumpster size guide for details and prices.
Book early. After a big storm, many neighbors need cleanup at once. Call (903) 627-1351 as soon as you know you need a dumpster. Same day delivery may be available depending on the truck schedule. See our same day dumpster page.
Step 4: Sort Your Storm Debris
Sorting first saves money and trips. Split your debris into these piles:
| Pile | Where it goes |
|---|---|
| Small limbs, leaves, pine needles | Weekly city yard waste (bundled or in paper bags) |
| Larger limbs and logs | City compost site, bulky pickup, or a dumpster |
| Fencing, shed parts, siding, furniture | Dumpster |
| Shingles and roof decking | Dumpster (watch the weight) |
| Stumps, root balls, very large logs | Ask us first. They are heavy and not part of city yard waste |
| Spoiled fridges or freezers | Not in a dumpster. Use the city bulky service ($20 per appliance) |
| Gas cans, propane tanks, paint, car batteries | Not in a dumpster. Keep them aside for proper disposal |
If you rent a dumpster, keep storm debris below the top rail. A load piled above the rail may not be picked up until it is leveled.
Step 5: Protect Your Insurance Claim
If the storm damaged your home, document everything before you haul it away. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends that you (TDI):
Take photos and video of all damage, inside and outside, and list damaged items. Keep the items until your insurer says you can throw them out.
Prevent more damage. Cover holes and broken windows, and remove standing water.
Save every receipt, including temporary repairs, since your policy may cover them.
File your claim as soon as you can, and be there when the adjuster visits.
Watch out for repair scams. Get more than one bid, do not pay in full up front, and be wary of anyone who offers to waive your deductible. TDI says that is illegal for homeowners in Texas.
Ask your insurer whether your policy covers debris removal, and keep your dumpster rental receipt with your claim records.
Storm Debris FAQs
Does the City of Longview pick up storm debris?
Yes, within its normal rules. Weekly yard waste takes bundled limbs under 4 feet long and 3 inches thick, up to 8 cubic yards a week. Larger brush can go out with a scheduled bulky pickup. Call 903 237 1250 for storm updates.
Where can I dump tree limbs in Longview?
Longview residents can drop off eligible limbs, logs, leaves, and grass for free at the city Compost Site, 2020 Swinging Bridge Rd., Tuesday through Saturday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring your water bill as proof that you live in the city.
Can I put tree limbs in a dumpster?
Yes. Limbs and brush are fine in a roll off dumpster. Cut them short and lay them flat to fit more in. For stumps or very large logs, call us first, since they are heavy and can use up the weight allowance fast.
Can I put storm debris in plastic bags?
Not for city yard waste pickup. The city does not collect yard waste in plastic bags for free. Use paper yard waste bags or a container labeled “Yard Waste.”
Will the city take a fallen fence or roof shingles?
Not with yard waste. Roofing is excluded from bulky pickup, and construction debris is not accepted at the compost site. A dumpster is the simplest way to clear mixed storm damage.
Can I burn storm debris in Longview?
Check with the Longview Fire Marshal before burning storm debris inside city limits. Local and state rules may apply.
Need a Dumpster for Storm Cleanup in Longview?
Tell us what came down, and we will suggest a size and give you the full price and included weight before delivery. We serve Longview and nearby Gregg County communities like Kilgore, White Oak, and Gladewater, subject to delivery availability.