Letter: Landfill not best place for used sandbags

Anyone traveling through the Cedar Rapids city quadrants can't help but notice the sandbags awaiting removal.

As I understand it, the city intends to send any sandbags that may have been touched by floodwaters to the landfill. I believe this to be a waste of resources as landfills have a limited amount of space and therefore should be used sparingly.

Instead consider sending these sandbags to be used as a base for a flood control levee extending from First and Penn Avenue NW to Ellis Lane NW. This area, Time Check, has been submerged by floodwaters many times during our city's history. I can't believe these sandbags pose any more danger to residents than the contaminates contained in the soil. Trucking cost to the Time Check area would be similar to the cost of trucking to a landfill, as would the cost of labor.

Once the bags were in place, they would be encapsulated with a topsoil, further reducing exposure to toxins believed to be within the sandbags. This would be a cost effective way of disposing of the problem and accomplishing a start for a flood control system for the northwest quadrant of the city. Why not attempt to organize a volunteer effort to create a flood wall using civic pride and Iowan self-determination?

Paul Anderson

Cedar Rapids