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Disposal of used sandbags <br />Floodwater can contaminate sandbags with bacteria <br />and other pathogens. And used sandbags that are not <br />properly managed can develop mold over time. <br />Generally, one of the following methods should be <br />used to manage used sandbags: <br />A. Disposal of emptied sandbags and the sand from <br />them: Remove the sand from the used sandbags and <br />properly dispose of, reuse, or recycle the bags. The <br />sand may then be: <br />• used as clean fill (preferably covered) and <br />only in appropriate locations (i.e., do not use <br />the sand to fill wetlands, etc.) or <br />• stockpiled for use as winter road sand. <br />Note: Place the sand where it will have no <br />contact with humans. For example, do not <br />use the sand for playgrounds or sandboxes. <br />B. Disposal of full sandbags: <br />Not all landfills will accept sand and sandbags, so <br />call first. <br />• Dispose of very muddy sandbags and debris in <br />a sanitary landfill. Full sandbags could also be <br />disposed of in a demolition landfill. <br />Note: Landfill disposal is the safest but not <br />necessarily the most cost-effective alternative <br />for disposal offull sandbags. <br />• Full used sandbags can be used as fill on a <br />case -by -case basis. Contact your local <br />Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) <br />solid waste staff for approval if you wish to <br />dispose of full used sandbags in this manner. It <br />is recommended that used sandbags deposited <br />as fill be covered with soil. <br />• Full sandbags contaminated with oils and other <br />significant pollutants should be disposed of in a <br />sanitary landfill. <br />C. Sandbag reuse: Full sandbags may be stored and <br />reused for same -season flood fighting. It is not <br />recommended that used sandbags be stored for <br />long periods. Sandbags may be reused to <br />construct permanent earthen flood structures. <br />Health and safety <br />As both flood -mud and used sandbags may contain <br />bacteria and contaminants, care should be taken to <br />wear appropriate protective gloves, eye protection, <br />and clothing. Persons who work with flood mud or <br />used sandbags should exercise good hygiene and wash <br />their hands with soap and water when they are done <br />working with these materials. <br />For more information <br />For more information about disposal of flood <br />sediments or used sandbags, phone the MPCA main <br />office at 651-296-6300 or toll -free at 800-657-3864 or <br />one of the regional MPCA offices: <br />Brainerd ................218-828-2492 <br />Detroit Lakes ............. 218-847-1519 <br />Duluth ................218-723-4660 <br />Mankato ................507-389-5977 <br />Marshall ................ 507-53 7-7146 <br />Rochester ................507-206-2631 <br />Willmar .................320-214-3786 <br />Guidelines for managing mud and used sandbags after a flood - c-er3-19 - March 2009 <br />page 2 <br />Minnewu Pollution <br />� '_ Control Agmy <br />