When Cleanup Begins

Dealing with Flood Garbage and Water Concerns

After the floodwaters recede, the debris that remains can cause serious pollution problems and result in ill health effects.

Recycling Flood Waste

Sand and sandbags can be recycled for other household and industrial uses, or they can be used as fill for roads and holes. Common sense should be used. For example, sand that may have come into contact with sewage should not be used in children's sand boxes. Remove bags strewn about the flood area, they can cause a serious pollution problem if they are not disposed of properly.

Taking them to a local scrap dealer, who will remove potentially dangerous components, can recycle household appliances, also known as “white goods,” For information on scrap dealers in your area check the yellow pages or call a local appliance retailer.

If local scrap metal dealers are not available to properly remove the potentially dangerous components, which include Freon and mercury switches and PCB capacitors, an option may be to deliver them to an EPA approved collection site. Specific locations and other necessary details may be provided when clean-up needs are determined. Please do not dump these items along roadsides, in ditches or in creeks.

Tires also must be disposed of properly. Many tire dealers will take back used tires. Consult your local tire retailer Used tires should never be burned. Your local Cooperative Extension Service may also have this information.

Household Hazardous Flood Waste Disposal

Household hazardous waste products should be disposed of properly to avoid health and pollution risks. After some disasters, the IEPA may offer free disposal of unusable household chemical pollutants in the disaster areas. Until they can be disposed of properly, store the unusable products in a safe location.

The following are just a few examples of common hazardous household products. These contain the same chemicals found in industrial hazardous waste and must be disposed of properly: weed killers, paint, drain cleaner, motor oil, fuel solvents, and insect poisons. Please review the expanded list in this fact sheet.

Sealed Drum and Propane Tank Disposal

Untrained persons should not handle sealed drums with unknown contents. To dispose of propane tanks contact the nearest propane distributor. Propane tanks have serial numbers that will allow for identification of tank owners and locations.

Land filling Flood Waste

You may dispose of the following items in your local landfill: sand, sandbags, plastic sheeting, shingles, insulation, animal carcasses, grain, animal feed, food, carpet, furniture, metal debris and machinery, household appliances.

Although appliances can be disposed of in landfills, licensed professionals must first remove components on the appliances that contain Freon, mercury, PCBs and other hazardous chemicals. The EPA strongly recommends that household appliances be recycled through a local scrap dealer or delivered to an approved EPA collection site, if one is available.

Flood Waste/Garbage Disposal


Recycle	Dispose at IEPA Collection site			Landfill	Burn*

Sand	Household appliances/"white goods"		Carpet and rug cleaners	Sand, sandbags	Tree limbs
Sandbags	Antifreeze		Disinfectants and germicides	Shingles	Brush
Tires	Paint		Floor wax and stripper	Insulation	Natural wood or plant
	Prescriptions		Wood preservatives	Animal	debris
	Lawn chemicals		Furniture polish	carcasses	Agricultural waste-bags
	Drain cleaner		Moth balls	Grain	or cartons
	Motor oil		Oven cleaner	Animal feed	Dry bedding
	Metal polishers		Silver cleaner	Food	Crop residue
	Insect poisons		Toilet bowl cleaner	Carpet
	Air fresheners &	deodorizers	Pool chemicals	Furniture
			Aerosol products	**Household
				appliances
				Metal debris
				Machinery

*If you want to burn materials that are not listed you must first contact your local fire official and the IEPA at 217-782-2113. A permit may be required.

**Household appliances must have hazardous chemical components removed before they are placed in a landfill.

Burning Flood Waste

Individuals may safely burn tree limbs, brush, natural wood or plant debris, agricultural waste-bags, cartons, dry bedding, and crop residue.

A permit may be required and a simplified permit application is available. However, local restrictions on open burning may apply and should be considered before burning waste.

When you burn waste, please take the following steps:

· Coordinate the burn with the local fire station.

· Conduct the burning when the wind is blowing away from roadways, railroad tracks, airfields, and populated areas.

· Supervise or provide supervision on site of the burn location. Avoid exposure to the smoke from the fire.

· Burn between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. to achieve the best natural dispersion of smoke. Be sure to check your local burning ordinance.

Do Not Burn asbestos-containing materials, used tires, shingles, insulation, plastics, plastic sheeting, wood painted with lead paint, and household or hazardous chemicals. Those materials can cause serious pollution and health effects if burned.

Drinking Water Concerns After the Flood

Listen for special announcements about local boil orders that may be in effect. Once a BOIL ORDER has been announced, the accepted procedure is to boil the pan of water at a ROLLING BOIL (212 F) FOR ONE FULL MINUTE. Boiling water will generally rid the water supply of microorganisms, but no such substances as nitrates, nitrites or agro-chemicals.

Water used to make ice, brush teeth, or wash dishes also must be boiled. Private water wells should be pumped out, disinfected with bleach, allowed to recharge naturally, and tested before drinking or cooking.

Your local public health department or the Illinois Department of Public Health regional office will provide you with information and assistance in testing your well.

This information is provided by the IEPA. For additional flood-related or environmental information your local Cooperative Extension Service office.

February 1995

Dispose at IEPA Collection site