Safe disposal of used sandbags

Published 04/12/2017

If you used sandbags over the weekend to protect your home from flooding, it is important that you dispose of them correctly and safely.

Sandbags may be contaminated after use and local councils should ensure that clean up and disposal is considered part of the recovery stage.

Find your local council here: https://knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au/councils and contact them to find out how to dispose of sandbags.

Important tips to consider:

Wear sturdy gloves when handling wet sandbags as they can contain chemicals, waste and diseases;
Sandbags that have been in contact with floodwater MUST be thrown away; and
Contact your local council to find out how to dispose of your sandbag safely.

Removal and disposal of used sandbags should be dealt with under the clean up and community recovery arrangements as outlined in the Emergency Management Manual Victoria.

Please note, all sandbag collection points established over the weekend of 1-3 December are now closed.

For anyone seeking sandbags, they can be purchased from most local hardware stores.