Bay County will start one roadside pass for unbagged storm vegetation October 26 in designated unincorporated areas. A separate landfill fee waiver runs through October 25, according to the county’s October 14 recovery notice following Hurricane Isaias.

The pickup area covers unincorporated Panama City Beach and extends north along State Road 79 to Steelfield Road. Residents must set vegetation out by October 26; crews will not return after their pass. Collection may take weeks.

Furniture, appliances, construction waste, garbage and bagged vegetation are excluded. The county also excludes private roads, private neighborhoods and contractor-placed debris from this specific program.

Waste Amnesty at Steelfield Landfill, 11411 Landfill Road, instead serves county residents with residency proof; commercial customers are excluded. Confirm special hours: the storm notice extends the waiver through Sunday, October 25, but the standing Solid Waste page lists ordinary Sunday closure.

The county’s disposal information explains why landfill access and roadside collection should not be confused. The Solid Waste Division normally provides disposal facilities rather than pickup. Steelfield accepts several household waste categories, while appliances and tires require processing rather than ordinary landfilling. Its separate household hazardous-waste facility has additional handling conditions.

The department also operates the Bayline Drive Public Participation Center, which is designed for small quantities of household garbage and trash. Its standing instructions direct large loads and bulky materials to Steelfield. Residents should distinguish those locations when planning a trip: a service offered at one site is not automatically available at another. The storm announcement identifies Steelfield for the temporary amnesty.

The standing page says household hazardous materials such as paints, cleaners and pesticides must come from a residence and be in original containers for that facility’s no-charge service. Businesses do not qualify for that household program. Residents unsure about a material should contact the facility rather than assuming a general fee waiver eliminates disposal restrictions.

The Environmental Protection Agency’s debris guidance recommends following local separation instructions. It distinguishes vegetation from construction waste, hazardous household materials, appliances, electronics and ordinary garbage. Those categories explain why a mixed curbside pile can create a different problem from a stack of fallen branches.

EPA also warns that debris can be wet, heavy or moldy and advises appropriate protective clothing and equipment. Its general examples do not expand Bay County’s collection list. Locally, the recovery notice calls for keeping roads, sidewalks, drainage and utility access clear when setting material out.

Residents can ask the county’s Citizens Information Center at 850-248-6090 about collection boundaries, accepted materials, Waste Amnesty and cleanup assistance. This report relies on county operating records and EPA guidance; it does not verify an individual address’s eligibility or guarantee a collection date. Confirming the correct program and hours before loading a vehicle or placing debris roadside can avoid a missed pickup or an unnecessary trip.

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Feature image: AI-generated illustration; it does not depict an actual Bay County property or collection site.