PUB2599
Missouri Department of Natural Resources fact sheet
Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director: Jake Buxton

Disposal of Sandbags after Flooding

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

  • Placement of the sand in playgrounds, sandboxes or other areas of direct human contact soon after use in sandbags should be avoided, as the sand may have been exposed to harmful bacteria in floodwaters.
  • Do not dump the sand or sandbag into a waterway.
  • 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.
  • Crushed limestone is considered clean fill and may be used where 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 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.

For more information contact the department’s Solid Waste Management Program at 573-751-5401 or the regional office in your area.

Regional Offices

The department's regional offices provide field inspections, complaint investigation and front-line troubleshooting, problem solving and compliance assistance on environmental issues and emergencies. Refer to the map of regional offices to determine which office serves your county.

Kansas City Regional Office

200 Unity Circle North, Suite 2A
Lee's Summit, MO 64086
Main: 816-251-0700
Email: kcro@dnr.mo.gov

Counties served: Andrew, Atchison, Bates, Benton, Buchanan, Caldwell, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Harrison, Henry, Holt, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Nodaway, Pettis, Platte, Ray and Worth.

Northeast Regional Office

1709 Prospect Drive
Macon, MO 63552-2602
Main: 660-385-8000
Fax: 660-385-8090

Counties served: Adair, Audrain, Boone, Callaway, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Cole, Cooper, Grundy, Howard, Knox, Lewis, Linn, Livingston, Macon, Marion, Mercer, Moniteau, Monroe, Osage, Pike, Putnam, Ralls, Randolph, Saline, Schuyler, Scotland, Shelby and Sullivan.

Southeast Regional Office

2155 N. Westwood Blvd.
Poplar Bluff, MO 63901
Main: 573-840-9750
Fax: 573-840-9754

Counties served: Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Carter, Crawford, Dent, Dunklin, Howell, Iron, Madison, Maries, Mississippi, New Madrid, Oregon, Pemiscot, Perry, Phelps, Pulaski, Reynolds, Ripley, Scott, Shannon, St. Francois, Ste. Genevieve, Stoddard, Texas, Washington and Wayne.

Southwest Regional Office

2040 W. Woodland St.
Springfield, MO 65807-5912
Main: 417-891-4300
Fax: 417-891-4399

Counties served: Barry, Barton, Camden, Cedar, Christian, Dade, Dallas, Douglas, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Laclede, Lawrence, McDonald, Miller, Morgan, Newton, Ozark, Polk, St. Clair, Stone, Taney, Vernon, Webster and Wright.

St. Louis Regional Office

1390 Timberlake Manor Parkway, Suite 210
Chesterfield, MO 63017
Main: 314-416-2960
Fax: 314-416-2970

Counties served: Franklin, Gasconade, Jefferson, Lincoln, Montgomery, St. Charles and St. Louis.

Nothing in this document may be used to implement any enforcement action or levy any penalty unless promulgated by rule under chapter 536 or authorized by statute.

For more information