Update #6: Sandbag disposal

Pinellas County has distributed more than 21,000 sandbags in 2024 in preparation for storm season, including more than 3,400 in the days leading up to Hurricane Debby. Here’s what to do with sandbags after the storm:

For sandbags that did NOT come into contact with floodwaters:

• Keep and store clean sandbags to reuse them for future storms. It’s best to store sandbags in a cool, dry area indoors or under cover.
• To dispose of clean sandbags, spread the sand on lawns or landscape beds. Place the empty bags in your garbage bin (not your recycling bin).
• Do not dump sandbags onto the beach. Sand used to help stop flooding may be different from beach sand and can cause issues for turtle nesting, among other problems.

For sandbags that have come into contact with floodwaters:

• Sandbags that have been in contact with floodwaters may be contaminated by sewage, animal waste, oil or chemicals. Wear gloves and a dust mask when handling potentially contaminated materials. Do not place used sand in or near bodies of water, playgrounds, sandboxes or other areas of direct human contact.
• Bring used sandbags, separated from other waste, to the Pinellas County Solid Waste Disposal Complex, 3095 114th Ave. N., St. Petersburg. Disposal fees apply. Disposal fees for sandbags will be waived after hurricane season, from Dec. 1, 2024, through the end of 2024.
• Do not put sand or full sandbags in your regular trash or yard waste. Do not mix sandbags with yard debris for disposal.

Visit pinellas.gov/sandbags for more information. For updates on Hurricane Debby recovery efforts, visit disaster.pinellas.gov.