Photo: Contributed

With threats of flooding a distant memory for this year, city officials are advising people what they can do with any sandbags they have remaining on their property.

In most instances, sand used for flood protection in the City of Vernon can be treated as clean soil and be used as general fill, substitute aggregate in construction applications or blended into gardens and lawns.

As lake and creek levels recede, the City of Vernon will be providing recommendations as to when it is safe to remove flood protection from effected properties.

Sand bags can be dropped off free of charge at the following locations as long as they are not mixed with any other substance, wood debris, garbage or recycling materials:

• All RDNO Recycling and Disposal Facilities
• The sand bag fill site located outside Operations yard entrance at 1900 – 48th Ave., off Pleasant Valley Road
• The sand bag fill site located at corner of Okanagan Ave and Okanagan Landing Rd (across from Marshall Fields)

Residents of Vernon who are required to dispose of more than 400 sand bags from their properties can call city operations at 250-549-6757 during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., to request assistance.

City staff will review the request and if approved, City contractors will be providing large collection bins to individual properties to assist with the removal process.