Natural Disaster Assistance for Missouri Citizens - How to Properly Dispose of Sandbags

Department of Natural Resources fact sheet	03/2020
Department of Natural Resources Director: Carol S. Comer	PUB2599

Disposal of Sandbags after Flooding

The department is providing the following guidance for handling sandbags after a flood:

• Placing sandbags in a location that is likely to cause or allow the sandbags to directly enter waterways is a violation of clean water law.
• Other than not dumping in waterways, DNR does not regulate sand unless it has been contaminated with petroleum, hazardous waste or hazardous substances. Flood waters are not “petroleum, hazardous waste or hazardous substances,” even though floodwaters may come into contact with some of those materials. Therefore DNR does not regulate sand that has come in contact with flood water only.
• Sand that has come in contact with flood waters may contain pathogens, therefore we recommend keeping it away from areas of likely human contact.
• Sand that is contaminated with oil, hazardous waste or hazardous substances should be tested and disposed of in an appropriate facility. Use common sense to determine if sand has been contaminated. Look for signs of contamination such as discoloration, odor, sheen in water that is in contact with the sand, etc.
• Sandbags may be used as clean fill material so long as they are subsequently covered with a layer of soil or other structural materials to a depth of at least 12 inches.
• Sandbags may also be used as daily cover at permitted sanitary landfills.
• Sand could be stockpiled and used for winter road sand, fill, concrete or mortar sand, and other uses.
• Sandbags may be stored indefinitely in piles so long as local ordinances are observed.
• 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 disposal facility to reduce the potential for litter problems. Testing will not be required unless obviously contaminated. Follow proper procedures for disposing of sand that appears to have been contaminated by petroleum or other hazardous materials.
• Crushed limestone is considered clean fill and may be used where structurally appropriate.

For more information contact the department’s Waste Management Program at 573-751-5401 or the Department or regional office in your area (see list below).

Central Field Operations Office
P.O. Box 176
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0176
573-522-3322
573-522-3522 fax
Counties served: Camden, Cole, Maries, Miller, Moniteau, Morgan, Osage, Phelps, and Pulaski.

Regional Offices
The Department of Natural Resources’ Regional Offices provide field inspections, complaint investigation and front-line troubleshooting, problem solving and compliance assistance on environmental issues and emergencies.

Kansas City Regional Office
500 NE Colbern Road
Lee’s Summit, MO 64086-4710
816-251-0700
816-622-7044 fax
Counties served: Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Cass, Clay, Clinton, DeKalb, Gentry, Henry, Holt, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Nodaway, Platte, Ray, and Worth.

Northeast Regional Office
1709 Prospect Dr.
Macon, MO 63552-2602
660-385-8000
660-385-8090 fax
Counties served: Adair, Audrain, Boone, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Cooper, Daviess, Grundy, Harrison, Howard, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Monroe, Pettis, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby, and Sullivan.

Southeast Regional Office
2155 N. Westwood Blvd.
P.O. Box 1420
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
573-840-9750
573-840-9754 fax
Counties served: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Texas, Washington, and Wayne.

Southwest Regional Office
2040 W. Woodland
Springfield, MO 65807-5912
417-891-4300
417-891-4399 fax
Counties served: Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Ozark, Polk, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Vernon, Webster, and Wright.

St. Louis Regional Office
7545 S. Lindbergh, Suite 210
St. Louis, MO 63125
314-416-2960
314-416-2970 fax
Counties served: Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Lincoln, Montgomery, St. Charles, St. Louis, Warren, and St. Louis City.