KENT, Wash. – March 17, 2010 – The City of Kent urges residents to put all of that sand to good use with spring fever in the air. With March 30 marking the official end of the 2009-2010 flood season, people are beginning to look for ways to get rid of their sandbags for the summer. While the sandbags won’t last until the next flood season, there are ways residents can save the sand for fall or use it for gardening and home improvement projects.
“The best thing people can do is place a plastic covering in a corner of their yard or garage and empty the sand there,” says Greg Reed, Utilities Superintendent with the Public Works Department. “If they cover the sand pile with plastic, they’ll have their own personal sandbag filling station for the new sandbags we’ll pass out come fall.”
How to use the leftover sand:
- Aerate lawns and spread sand to help improve drainage
- Fill in low spots in the lawn, cover with grass seed for a green and level lawn
- Mix with garden or potting soil to promote good drainage for plants and flowers
- Use as the base for brick or stone walkway projects
For residents unable to keep the sand onsite through the summer, the City will collect the sand and sandbags each Saturday in April from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the following locations in Kent:
- Home Depot, 26120 104th Ave. SE
- Grandview Park, 3600 S. 228th St.
Assistance is available for those who need it by calling the Service Clubs Volunteer Hotline at 206-755-4814 or by email at kentserviceclubs@yahoo.com. Kent Sunrise Rotary, Rotary Club of Kent, Kent Meridian Kiwanis Club, Kiwanis Club of Kent, Kent Lions, Soroptimist International of Kent and Quota International of Kent Valley have all come together to serve as volunteer coordinators to help those who are physically unable to move sandbags.
Businesses are not allowed to dump sand at these sites, but they can find additional resources and potential disposal sites at www.kingcounty.gov/floodplans. Residents of other cities or unincorporated King County should contact their local emergency management office for sandbag disposal options in their area.
Whichever method residents choose, it is important that the sand is properly disposed of. It is illegal to dump sand or litter in wetlands, rivers, creeks and drains. Doing so can impact drinking water and damage fish and wildlife habitat. For more information, contact the City of Kent Public Works Department at 253-856-5500.
The City of Kent is the fourth largest city in King County, Washington with a population of 88,380. As a culturally rich destination, Kent’s dynamic quality of life features captivating neighborhoods, award-winning parks and nationally accredited police and fire departments. In recent years, Kent has experienced impressive economic growth, and is nationally known as a prime location for manufacturing. Visit www.choosekent.com.
