The city of Goleta has taken another step in reducing our carbon footprint. As part of our Goleta Green process, the city has replaced woven polypropylene sandbags with burlap bags at its sandbag distribution sites.
This follows the city’s removal in September of single-use plastics at City Hall, the corporate yard, and at our library branches in Goleta Valley, Buellton and Solvang.
Burlap bags are more eco-friendly than polypropylene bags. Burlap bags are made from natural plant fibers and are biodegradable. Polypropylene bags break down and shred into small plastic fibers. They are not biodegradable and will eventually end up in our oceans.
The new burlap sandbags can be found at all three self-serve locations: Fire Station 11 (6901 Frey Way and Storke Road, just south of Santa Felicia, across from the main post office); Fire Station 14 (320 Los Carneros Road, next to the Stow House Museum lot); and Goleta Valley Community Center (5679 Hollister Ave.).
Here are some things you should know about sandbag pickup:
- Sand and bags are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Pickup is open during daylight hours, seven days a week.
- There is a 20-bag limit (additional bags can be purchased at home improvement stores).
- Bags are for residents.
- Bring your shovel to fill the bags.
- It is easiest to fill the bags with two people — one to hold the bag and the other to shovel the sand.
To dispose of old polypropylene sandbags:
- Residents may displace old sand in planters or on lawns and dispose of bags in their trash containers.
- Residents may also bring their old filled bags to the public works corporate yard at 6735 Hollister Ave. (behind the Deckers building) for disposal.
Stay informed. Register for Santa Barbara County emergency alerts at readysbc.org, and sign up for emergency information from the city at https://tinyurl.com/GoletaEmergency.
Get more tips on winter storm preparedness at www.cityofgoleta.org/projects-programs/emergency-preparedness/winter-storm-preparedness.