Disaster Relief Information

The City of Bentonville is continuing to respond to the aftermath of the May 26 storms. FEMA declared the City of Bentonville a disaster area on Friday, May 29.

Storm Debris Disposal Options
Bentonville Compost Facility
The City has a disposal site for residents’ use for vegetative storm debris. Residents must show an ID and proof of residency (a City of Bentonville Utility Bill or other proof of property ownership).  Residents who have used a contractor to remove vegetative debris must accompany that contractor to the drop off site. 

The compost Facility is located at 2000 NW A Street. 

Monday - Friday: 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday: Closed

Beginning August 12 the facility will return to normal operating hours

Mon- Sat 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

BEGINNING AUGUST 12 all contractors/commercial haulers will need to be accompanied by a Bentonville resident with their utility bill (in person) to off load material collected in the City of Bentonville. We will no longer accept copies of utility bills from contractor/commercial haulers for off-loading of green waste.

As of June 20, 2024 wood chips are free to anyone. We will assist with loading, however we cannot haul or unload.

This site takes leaves, limbs, branches and logs up to 6 ft. in length and 30-inch diameter.

For Benton County Disposal Options see the County's debris information on the County disaster relief webpage.

City Contracted Pickup
The city has contracted with Looks Great Services for debris collection. Their trucks began collection on June 14 for the first pass. 

The City of Bentonville is set to conduct the second and final planned pass for storm debris pickup following recent storms. Residents are urged to move all debris to the curb right of way to ensure efficient and complete removal. Residents are asked to have all remaining debris at the curb no later than Monday August 5.

To facilitate this process and adhere to FEMA recommendations, residents are asked to sort their debris into the following categories:

1.  Vegetative Debris: Tree limbs, branches, and other organic materials.
2.  Construction and Demolition Debris: Building materials, drywall, lumber, carpet, furniture, and plumbing.
3.  Household Hazardous Waste: Paints, cleaners, oils, batteries, and pesticides.

Debris should be placed at the curbside but not in the street or obstructing sidewalks, driveways, or utilities. The City requests that residents ensure their debris piles are easily accessible for the collection crews and that they follow the sorting guidelines to expedite the cleanup process. Please do not place non-storm-related items at the curb.

Please see graphic for important separation information.  No bagged debris will be picked up. Their trucks will have the Looks Great Services logo. If you have specific questions on debris pickup please call 479-326-6559.

Commercial Entities
The City’s debris removal contractor will begin debris removal from the public rights-of-way of commercial entities on Tuesday, July 16, 2024. It is important to note that only one pass has been authorized by FEMA. Therefore, after your debris has been removed, please do not place additional debris along the public right-of-way. 

Additionally, if you receive insurance proceeds for disaster debris removal, such proceeds must be returned to the City and credited to FEMA to prevent duplication of benefits. If you have commercial debris to be picked up, you are encouraged to call 479-326-6559 to ensure you qualify and are included on the list. 

It is also important to note that FEMA did not approve the removal of commercial debris from large commercial areas such as shopping centers, industrial and manufacturing facilities, and other easily identifiable commercial areas. The responsibility for debris removal in these areas remains with the commercial entities themselves, and FEMA will not allow reimbursement for such debris removal.

Existing Options for Household Items / Construction and Demolition Waste and Hazardous Waste
The City’s existing contract with Republic Services includes services to pick up one large item per customer per week. Please call 479 855-4226 to schedule this pick up. The County currently offers a drop-off site for residents at the Decatur Road Yard. See the County disaster relief webpage for details. Hazardous waste items such as chemicals, electronics and other items can be taken to Benton County Waste Drop Off Sites. You can find locations and fee information here: https://www.bentoncountyrecycles.org/

Burn Permits
To assist Bentonville residents with storm debris clean-up, the City of Bentonville will be temporarily adjusting the zoning requirements to the current burn ordinance for limited applications from July 26 - August 4, 2024. In order for citizens to burn, specific requirements must be met and you must call 479 271-3151 in advance to apply for a burn permit. 

FEMA Assistance
The Federal Government has approved a request for a Major Disaster Declaration in Benton County. The Major Disaster Declaration allows Benton County residents affected by the May 26 storms to apply for federal assistance. To apply for FEMA assistance online go to https://www.disasterassistance.gov/ or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. FEMA is on-site at the NWACC campus in the Shewmaker Center for Workforce Technologies (Building 15) Monday through Saturday open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm to assist residents in filing for FEMA assistance. You can find details here. The deadline to apply for FEMA assistance is August 28, 2024.

If you have insurance (such as flood, homeowners, renters, auto, or other types of insurance), please file a claim with your insurance provider as soon as possible. You do not have to file your claim prior to applying for FEMA disaster assistance, but you will be required to provide FEMA with your insurance settlement or denial before being considered for certain types of assistance. Take photos of your damaged home and belongings for your own records. Make a list of damaged/lost items, which may be helpful when working with your insurance or discussing your losses with a FEMA inspector.

If you have reported damage on the Benton County Disaster Webpage, you are encouraged to report the damage also on the FEMA site.

Churches and Non-Profits
If your organization still needs assistance, there are several resources available to help you recover and rebuild through the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management.

Please reach out to the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management for support:
Main Contact Number: 501-683-6700
Olen Smith – NW Area Coordinator: olen.smith@adem.arkansas.gov
Arabella Stamper – State Public Assistance Officer: arabella.stamper@adem.arkansas.gov
Paige Brown – State Public Assistance Officer: paige.brown@adem.arkansas.gov
Nathan Murray – Recovery Branch Manager: nathan.murray@adem.arkansas.gov

Electric Service
If you need a letter confirming that you were out of power as a result of the storm, contact Utilities Billing 479 271-3100 or email your request to egovutility@bentonvillear.com and include your account number.

Benton County Relief Fund
The Benton County Relief Fund will provide short-term financial assistance to households impacted by the storm, as well as customized resource plans that will connect them to as many resources as possible to ensure that any needs they have are addressed as quickly as possible. The Fund will also support local service providers in their relief efforts for Benton County and its communities. The Fund will be administered by Excellerate Foundation, a 501(c)(3) public charity. Please note that the City of Bentonville does not manage the collection or distribution of these funds. You can donate and request assistance at https://bentoncountyrelieffund.com/.

Small Businesses
The Small Business Administration is now offering low-interest federal disaster loans to businesses and homeowners in Benton county who were affected by the storms. Visit sba.gov/disaster to apply for assistance through the administration or call (800) 659-2955 for more information. Details available here.

Storage Container Permit Waiver
Requirement for a conditional use permit for shipping containers for storage purposes is suspended until August 1, 2024. See Ordinance.