This Saturday, Jan. 16, will be the last day of the expanded free landfill access for local victims of last December’s storm/tornadoes. The Municipal Water District landfill in Melissa will be open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. to receive debris drop-offs. The county’s Public Works Department will be on hand to verify resident status and storm debris loads. A current driver’s license or utility bill is required to prove residency. Public Works will also have staff and volunteers on hand to help unload debris at the landfill. The county will once again pay the dump fees for residents bringing in storm debris.

 The county’s Homeland Security office continues to work with volunteers, churches and businesses helping storm victims clean up and transport debris to the landfill. Collin County does not have rural trash pickup service, and the county cannot clear debris on private land, so the county is coordinating the volunteer efforts in the aftermath of December’s storms. The Lavon First Assembly of God is having a volunteer work day in the Copeville area on Saturday to help with the tornado cleanup. Volunteers from the First Baptist Church of Farmersville are also helping storm victims this weekend.

The Melissa landfill has kept extended hours to help with the clean-up since the end of December, but Jan.16 will be the last extra free access day. After Saturday, free landfill access for county residents will revert back to the regular first-Saturday-of-the-month trash days, with the next day scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6.

Since the December storm, the county has enlisted thousands volunteers who have provided tens of thousands of volunteer hours helping residents clean up the storm’s damage. Volunteer assistance is still available for storm victims from the county Homeland Security office. Anyone requiring assistance, or anyone wanting to volunteer to help storm victims, may contact the Collin County Homeland Security Office at 972-548-4383. The biggest need at this time is for volunteers with trucks and trailers to take storm debris to the landfill.