Free Sandy debris collection continues in towns

Brookhaven Town is continuing to collect superstorm Sandy-related debris from Suffolk County and several other Long Island towns but will not immediately charge fees.

The town started collecting trees and branches Nov. 6, with much of the debris coming from Suffolk County and the towns of Smithtown, Southampton and Riverhead, among other municipalities, Brookhaven officials said.

The county has supplied Brookhaven with three air curtain burners to help process the debris, which is being collected at the Yaphank landfill, town officials said.

Brookhaven normally charges $75 per ton of debris collected. Since the storm struck, it has taken in 38,000 tons of debris, some of which has come from the town itself, officials said.

Brookhaven Town will either charge the respective towns or seek reimbursement from FEMA once the debris collection has concluded. After Tropical Storm Irene, Brookhaven did not charge any fees until FEMA reimbursed the towns for their damage costs, officials said.