ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Now that Hurricane Helene has come and gone, some Tampa Bay locals may be wondering how they can properly reuse or dispose of their sandbags.
In the following guide, 10 Tampa Bay breaks down what residents can do with the sandbags they bought now that the hurricane has passed.
For sandbags that did not come into contact with floodwater
According to Pinellas County's official website, sandbags that did not come into contact with floodwaters should be kept and stored if they are clean. County leaders say those sandbags should be stored in a cool, dry area indoors or under cover.
Those looking to dispose of clean sandbags can spread the sand on their lawn or landscape beds, county leaders said. The empty bags should then be placed in the garbage, not recycled.
In addition, residents should not dump their sandbags on the beach, as sand used to help stop flooding may be different from beach sand. This can cause issues for turtle nesting, among other problems, according to county leaders.
Sandbags that came into contact with floodwater
These sandbags may be contaminated by sewage, animal waste, oil lawn chemicals or other hazardous materials, Pinellas County officials said. Residents handling these types of bags should wear gloves and a dust mask when handling and never place them near bodies of water, playgrounds, sandboxes or other areas where people can touch them.
Residents should not put sand or full sandbags in their regular trash or yard waste, according to county leaders.
Instead, they should be taken to your local solid waste disposal center. For Pinellas County, that's the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex at 3095 114th Ave. N. in St. Petersburg.
"Do not mix sandbags with yard debris for disposal," county leaders said. "The sand is abrasive and damages equipment used to grind yard debris into mulch."
Hurricane Helene is being blamed for more than 166 deaths and billions of dollars in destruction across the Southeast U.S.
More resources are available for those affected by the storm, including help with medical care, food and other needs.
For more information on resources for cleanup, rebuilding, food, shelter and more, click here.
