Dispose of Sandbags
Disposing of contaminated sandbags
Sandbags contaminated by flood water should be disposed of properly – do not place them in garbage or yard waste cans or throw away the sand in streets, ditches, down a drain or in water bodies. Floodwater is generally considered to be polluted, so sand from bags exposed to floodwater should not be used for children's sand boxes.
Please dispose of contaminated bags properly by taking take them to the Seattle Public Utilities South Transfer Station, located at 130 South Kenyon Street. Open 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. 7 days per week, except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day. Regular garbage rates apply.
The North Transfer Station is being rebuilt and will open in 2016.
Reusing or disposing of uncontaminated sandbags
Sandbags that are wet from rain, but have not come in contact with flood water, are safe to reuse. Let them dry out in the sun. Give them to a friend if you no longer want them.
Clean, washed sand can be added to gardens as a soil amendment. Sand is useful to “break up” clay soil, making it less likely to hold too much water and allowing more air to reach plant roots. It can be added to any garden soil, if spread in moderate amounts - up to one inch spread over the surface and dug into the soil. Avoid adding sand if your garden soil is already sandy.
A small amount of uncontaminated sand can be placed in your garbage bin each collection period. Note that the total weight of your bin cannot exceed 20 pounds for a Micro (12-gallon) bin, 30 pounds for a Mini (20-gallon) bin, 60 pounds for a 32-gallon bin, 120 pounds for a 64-gallon bin, and 180 pounds for a 96-gallon bin.
You can also dispose of uncontaminated bags at the South Transfer Station. Regular garbage rates apply.