Here's what to do with your sandbags after the flood
Over 35-thousand sand bags were used in Minden, Ontario's 2026 extreme flood!
Sandbags are commonly used for temporary flood control because they can slow or divert moving water. But what about after the flood?
While it may seem like a waste to dispose of this useful tool, it's actually necessary; used sandbags are often exposed to a wide variety of hazardous materials and pollutants.
According to Ben Gallagher, Manager of Emergency Management for the City of Mississauga, used sandbags are actually considered hazardous waste, so they can't be thrown out with your regular garbage.
SEE ALSO: From drips to disasters: How to flood-proof your home
"What you'll need to do," Gallagher says, "is bring those to a community recycling center, which generally require a disposal fee based on weight."
"If you are improperly disposing these sandbags, they can go on to further contaminate soils, vegetation, and the natural environment, and anyone who might come in contact, or any animals with these natural environments."
Luckily, if sandbags have not come into contact with floodwater, they can be stored for future use.
"If stored correctly, unused sandbags actually have a fairly long lifespan of up to, or even beyond, potentially ten years or so."
Copyedited by Anika Beaudry, a digital journalist at The Weather Network.
Thumbnail image created using file photos via Canva.