Storm season in South East Queensland can turn a quiet afternoon into a yard full of snapped branches, a lawn covered in leaf litter and, in the worse cases, a damaged roof or soaked interior. Storms move fast, but the clean-up rarely does. Working through it in the right order keeps you safe and stops a messy job from dragging on for weeks.

Here is how to approach a storm clean-up, from the first walk around the property to getting the debris off site.

Check for hazards before you start

The first job after a storm is a slow, careful look around, not a rake or a chainsaw. Fallen powerlines are the most serious risk. Treat every downed line as live, keep well clear, and report it to Energex on 13 19 62. Don’t try to move branches that are tangled in or resting on lines.

Watch for hanging branches that have cracked but not yet fallen, trees leaning at a new angle, and loose roofing iron or guttering. These can come down without warning, especially if the wind picks up again. If a tree has fallen on the house or the roof is badly damaged, contact the SES on 132 500 for emergency help.

Record the damage for your insurer

If any part of the house, shed, fences or contents has been damaged, call your insurer before you start clearing. Most policies want the damage documented first, and the requirements differ between insurers and claim types.

Photograph everything from a few angles: fallen trees, roof damage, water stains, wet carpet and damaged belongings. Note the date and time of the storm. Moving or throwing out damaged items before they are recorded can make a claim harder to settle.

Protect yourself while you work

Storm debris is sharp, heavy and often unstable. Wear sturdy gloves, closed footwear with good grip, long sleeves and safety glasses. Branches under tension can spring back hard when cut, so leave anything large, high or wedged against a structure to a qualified arborist.

If storm water has come inside, be careful around wet electrical fittings and appliances. Keep the power off to affected areas until a licensed electrician has checked them.

Sort the green waste from everything else

Most storm clean-ups produce two very different kinds of waste, and keeping them apart makes disposal simpler and cheaper.

Green waste covers the branches, palm fronds, leaves and tree clippings that end up scattered across the yard. Magic Bins offers 100% green waste skip bins at special pricing, as long as the bin holds green waste only. These bins take branches, palm fronds, tree clippings, weeds, untreated timber and tree trunks smaller than 30cm in diameter. Soil, turf, rocks and general rubbish can’t go in.

Everything else needs to be sorted by material, because it won’t all go in the same bin. Water-damaged plasterboard, soaked carpet and underlay, damaged fencing and other renovation or demolition debris belong in a light builders waste skip bin. General waste skips are for dry household waste such as broken outdoor furniture, ruined contents, appliances and packaging, so wet building materials can’t go in them. If your clean-up includes more than one type of waste, talk to the team about the best way to split the load.

Set hazardous items aside

Some storm debris needs separate handling. Older Queensland homes built or renovated before 1990 may contain asbestos in eaves, wall sheeting, roofing and fencing. If a storm has broken or dislodged any of these materials and there’s a chance they contain asbestos, don’t handle or break them further. Arrange a licensed removalist. Magic Bins provides asbestos skip bins by prior arrangement, and asbestos must never be mixed with other waste.

Batteries, gas bottles, paint, oil, tyres and liquids are not permitted in any Magic Bins skip. Take these to your local council’s household hazardous waste drop-off instead.

Getting the debris off site

A single large tree can fill a skip faster than most people expect, and a room of wet carpet and plasterboard adds up just as quickly. Having a bin on site means you can load as you clear rather than stacking debris along the fence line, where it blocks access and can become a hazard in the next storm.

Bins with doors are available from 4m³ up to 12m³ at no extra charge, which makes it easier to walk or wheelbarrow heavier loads in rather than lifting everything over the side. Just request the door when you book. Every quote is a flat rate covering delivery, collection, tipping and GST, and depending on availability, Magic Bins can usually deliver within 24 hours of booking.

Prepare for the next one

Once the yard is clear, it’s worth a quick look at what made the clean-up harder. Overhanging branches near the roof, blocked gutters and loose items left outdoors are the usual culprits. A tidy-up before the next storm front rolls through can save you a much bigger job afterwards.

If you need a bin for a storm clean-up, the Magic Bins team can help you choose the right size and waste type. Call 07 3829 9457 or enquire online.