Water from heavy flooding in Manitoba this spring is receding, which leaves many communities with one burning question - what to do with millions of used sandbags?

In Winnipeg, the city is spending around $1 million on contractors to deal with the mess.

The contractors will collect more than 500,000 sandbags from backyards and driveways.

The city says any bags that got wet with water from the swollen Red River are going straight to a landfill.

But officials hope at least 100,000 will be recycled.

The Winnipeg zoo wants as many used sandbags as possible to line the bottom of its bird exhibits.