News Release 172

FLOOD CLEANUP TIP: CLEANING UP SANDBAGS

Volume 36-172

Contact: Renee Bungart

(For immediate release)

573-751-4465

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., APRIL 9, 2008 -- Thousands of sandbags were used recently to prevent flood damage to homes and businesses. Now, many are left with an important question: What to do with all those sandbags?

Sandbags may be used as clean fill as long as they are subsequently covered with a layer of soil or other structural materials at least 12 inches deep. Sandbags may also be used as daily cover at permitted sanitary landfills. Sandbags may be stored indefinitely in piles so long as local ordinances are observed. Crushed limestone is considered clean fill and may be used when structurally appropriate.

Sand from broken bags should be prevented from eroding into waterways or storm sewers. If sandbags are emptied of their contents, the bags themselves must be properly disposed of in a permitted sanitary disposal facility to reduce the potential for litter problems. Testing will not be required unless obviously contaminated. 

For more information, contact the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Solid Waste Management Program at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-5401. The department also has additional resources available to help guide flood cleanup efforts available on its Web site at www.dnr.mo.gov/disaster.htm.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/search.do.

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