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I'm making a trip back home (to the coast) shortly, and I would like to bring back sand from the beach with me as a keepsake or memento. It's just a short weekend trip, and I won't be checking any luggage, so I was wondering if it's even worth bothering trying to bring sand aboard the plane in my carry-on?

If so, what I can do to make the security screening as smooth as possible. I was planning on putting the sand in sandwich-sized plastic bags, enclosed in a larger quart- or gallon-sized bag.

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3 Answers

up vote 10 down vote accepted

It isn't a weapon, tool, flammable, explosive, chemical or liquid, so I can't imagine that it would be a problem. It isn't listed by the TSA as a prohibited item. I'd say just put it in the bottom of your bag and not worry about it.

If you are travelling internationally, you may have an issue with customs depending on your country of origin and destination, but it isn't a concern from a security screening perspective.

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up vote 1 down vote

While I was going to add this as a comment, I think it's more suitable as what SHOULD be the answer.

While it may be fun to do, environmentally you really shouldn't do it. In addition to potential disease transfers, bugs or contamination, if everyone did this, think how it'd affect the beach! You're essentially doing what would take erosion a lot longer to achieve, and is really not a good idea.

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I'm sure taking away a bit of sand would never hurt. :) – Ankur Banerjee♦ Feb 12 '12 at 23:33
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We're just bitter in the South Island here because sand from our glorious beaches is being taken up north to make nicer beaches for Wellington (the capital). Cue 'forecasts' of the island shrinking ;) – Mark Mayo Feb 13 '12 at 0:30
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@AnkurBanerjee if a million tourists each take away a pound of sand, that's half a million pounds of sand removed from a beach. On a small island that's a lot. – jwenting Feb 13 '12 at 6:54
I always hate such 'calculations' because nobody - not even the OP - here is talking about taking away a POUND of sand. – Ankur Banerjee♦ Feb 13 '12 at 10:12
Nor does he mention bringing 999,999 friends. While @MarkMayo makes an interesting point, I really doubt taking a pinch of sand is going to have a measurable environmental impact. – Ben Parsons Feb 13 '12 at 11:34
up vote 9 down vote

Internationally is a problem for soil, but not domestic. You shouldn't have an issue with TSA at all.

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Do you have any official information about it? – VMAtm Aug 11 '11 at 9:22
No official info, but when I came back from Afghanistan it was one of the big things they checked for. The security screeners told us domestic wasn't an issue, the only problem was internationally because of diseases not native to North America being brought over. – Slayd Aug 19 '11 at 12:49
most countries bar the import of biological materials, and that includes soil, without a special license. This can lead to high fines, expulsion, even prison for carrying things as seemingly harmless as an apple or a tuna sandwich off an international flight. – jwenting Feb 13 '12 at 6:53

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