Sheriff's Office • 100 North Fifth Avenue West • Duluth, MN 55802 Phone: (218) 726-2340 • www.stlouiscountymn.gov
Ross Litman Sheriff
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: July 11, 2022
Media Contact: Duane Johnson Emergency Operations Manager (218) 625-3960
Sandbag and flood-damaged materials disposal options offered for Crane Lake, Kabetogama, and Ash River areas
As water levels continue to slowly recede in the Rainy River/Rainy Lake Basin area, St. Louis County is offering several options to help residents safely dispose of used sandbags and other flood damaged materials.
Sandbags: More than 200,000 sandbags were filled in St. Louis County by volunteers and members of the Minnesota National Guard. Used sandbags are considered contaminated because of bacteria and other pathogens in flood water, and should be disposed of properly to avoid creating additional health and environmental problems. The sand should not be emptied out for use on beaches or in yards.
St. Louis County Public Works and contractors will provide curbside pickup of used sandbags in the Crane Lake, Kabetogama and Ash River areas on four consecutive Wednesdays: July 27, August 3, August 10 and August 17. Residents and private business owners should leave sandbags at the end of their driveway by these dates to be collected. There is no fee for this service.
Property owners also have the option to haul bags themselves to established drop-off sites. This will expedite the collection process. These drop-off sites are for sandbags only. They include:
Kabetogama Town Hall, 9707 Gamma Road, Kabetogama
Anderson Outfitters, 7255 Crane Lake Road, Crane Lake
Frontier Resort, 10141 Ash River Trail, Orr
Anyone with questions about sandbag disposal options should contact St. Louis County Emergency Management at 218-625-3960 or email johnsond@stlouiscountymn.gov.
Flood-damaged materials and debris: St. Louis County Environmental Services will accept, free of charge, storm‐related debris that is sorted, during the week of July 25, at its canister locations closest to the affected areas. These include:
Ash River Canister Site, 11391 Ash River Trail. This site will be open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kabetogama Lake Canister Site, 10280 Gamma Road. This site will be open Monday, Wednesday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Portage Canister Site, 6992 Crane Lake Road. This site will be open Tuesday, 2-6 p.m., Thursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saturday, 1-5 p.m., and Sunday, 3-6 p.m.
Any materials being dropped off must be separated into five categories: large appliances, electronics, household hazardous waste, demolition materials, and household garbage. For more information, visit stlouiscountymn.gov/garbage or call the toll free number for St. Louis County Environmental Services: 1-800-450-9278. The county is considering offering an additional week for free disposal of flood-damaged materials later this summer if there appears to be need.
People cleaning up after a flood should remember to protect themselves by wearing waterproof gloves and washing themselves with soap and water afterward.
