MADISON, Wis. -- Some back yards are finally visible again in Rock County, but there's a lot of cleanup left ahead after recent flooding.

VIDEO: Watch The Report

For many residents, the cleanup effort all starts with getting rid of the most recognizable sign leftover from flooding: the sandbags.

When flooding was at its worst, neighbors, friends and strangers rushed to aid those whose homes were being threatened. Volunteers filled sandbags by the thousands, WISC-TV reported.

Now that the emergency is gone, many volunteers are too. Yet the sandbags remain.

Phil Boutwell, the assistant to the Rock County administrator, said the county will open four drop-off points for county residents to dispose of sandbags.

"We're going to work on the honor system," said Boutwell. "They'll be open and we'll come in a couple times a week, scoop up the sandbags, and haul them away.

"We believe that this will help them so they don't have to haul them all the way down to the landfill in Janesville and pay a tipping fee," said Boutwell. "They can drop them off at one of these locations and we can take care of the rest."

There are more than a quarter of a million sandbags in these areas, and many of them could pose a health risk, WISC-TV reported.

County health officials said bacteria in floodwater can be spread through wet sandbags.

"These disease organisms can be transferred through cuts and hand-to-mouth contact. So you'll want to preferably wear gloves if you can when moving sandbags," said Tim Bamwell, environmental health director for the Rock County Health Department.

The Rock River remains above flood stage, but for many, getting rid of sandbags will be a big first step toward getting back to normal, WISC-TV reported.

"We can get the sandbags that are out there now, that are in the flood plain and in the flood way, out of that area and clean them up," said Boutwell.

The county's drop points will be open Wednesday.

The drop-off sites are located at the following locations: the intersection of Sherman Road and State Highway 59 for the Towns of Fulton and Milton. Behind the Rock County DPW garage on Newville Road in the Town of Janesville. The intersection of Old Airport Road and Happy Hollow Road in the Town of Rock and also at the Indianford County Park.

The sites are strictly for sand and sandbags only, no trash or debris will be accepted.

County health officials said blue-green algae is another health risk residents should watch for when cleaning up. They said it may pop up in standing water, WISC-TV reported.