The cleanup from this past weekend's flood is far from over, but it has already caused mountains of trash for solid waste removal companies to deal with.

Ed Vogel, vice president of Vogel Disposal Service of Mars, said the facility has been getting several hundred additional tons of garbage a day. Usually, Vogel Disposal gets about 1,500 tons a day from nine counties.

"We've been busy, to say the least," Vogel said, but added, "we're getting ahead of it."

Doug Vogel, also a vice president of the company, said the past week has been the busiest ever.

"It started Saturday," he said. "We had some requests from municipalities for help. Sunday, we delivered (Dumpsters) to Renfrew, Jackson Township, Harmony, Zelienople and Renfrew.

"We spent all day Sunday doing it and it's been non-stop ever since.

"Our crews are running 12-hour days trying to handle all the municipalities' requests, plus their normal workload."

Thursday morning, Butler Township manager Gerald Patterson Jr. said Vogel is refusing to pick up storm debris in the township. The township has an exclusive contract with Vogel for residential collection.

"In our opinion, the storm debris is outside the residential contract we have with Butler Township," Doug Vogel said. "If it was caused by flooding water, we will take a small amount of it. But if there is someone throwing out their whole basement, that's outside the waste collection contract."

Patterson said the township worked out an agreement with Waste Management Inc. to come out "on a case-by-case basis."

Melanie Williams, community relations coordinator for Waste Management, said the cost would be $150 for up to 20 cubic yards of debris.

She said if individuals don't have that much, neighbors can team up together.

"We're happy to assist during a difficult time for these communities," she said.

People needing service can call Waste Management at 800-451-3060.

Doug Vogel said special arrangements can be made with his company for the removal of storm debris. He declined to estimate the cost.

"If there's a large amount of debris," he said, "we'll make special arrangements with the homeowner."

Vogel's telephone number is 724-625-1511.

Penn Township manager Greg Primm said Vogel is servicing the hard-hit Renfrew and Dutchtown Road areas.

He said the only problem the township has had with Vogel is not getting enough Dumpsters.

He said the township's road department employees are filling them up and Vogel is collecting them as fast as they can.

"I just think they're really busy," Primm said.

Although the state Department of Environmental Protection recently allowed waste management companies to suspend their normal daily limits, Vogel Disposal has not had to do so. Vogel's daily capacity is 3,000 tons.

Ed Vogel said the extra trash is coming mostly from Butler and Allegheny counties. He said he has offered his services to Allegheny's trash disposal facilities if they need it.

Despite the rise in demand for trash disposal, "we've been able to handle it," Vogel said. "It's nice to be busy."