Recycling, Waste Disposal, and Clean Sweep Hazardous Waste Reduction
The Community Resource Development Program works with local governments and county departments to help residents, farmers, and businesses to decrease the amount of waste being generated; to recycle the items that are recyclable; and to safely dispose of the remainder.
Recycling
Wisconsin’s recycling law bans certain materials from being thrown away in landfills or incinerators. This includes most types of paper and containers, including newspaper, cardboard boxes, magazines, office paper, aluminum containers, steel containers, glass bottles and jars, plastic containers with the numbers 1 and 2, steel cans, and tires. Other items that must be recycled are vehicle batteries, household appliances, motor oil, and yard wastes like grass clippings and leaves. More recently, the list of banned items has been extended to electronic wastes and oil filters.
Recycling programs in Calumet County are managed by local units of government, most of whom contract with Veolia Environmental Services for recycling collection. Specific questions about recycling pick up and service should be directed to local government officials, or to Veolia’s customer service staff at 888 688 4005. The entire City of Appleton receives recycling services from the Outagamie County Recycling Program, while the City of Menasha is served by the Winnebago County Recycling Program.
Recycling Publications To find local outlets for hard-to-manage items, see these publications.
Used TV and Electronics Recycling February 2012
Used Fluorescent Bulb Recycling January 2012
Used Oil Recycling February 2012
Used Oil Filter Recycling February 2012
Used Appliances Recycling February 2012
Propane Tank Handout
Waste Disposal
Veolia Environmental Services is the refuse collector in most of Calumet County, and can be reached at 888 688 4005. City departments in Appleton and Menasha are responsible for refuse collection in those communities. Some Calumet County communities hold special clean up days when residents can dispose of these items at no cost. For the materials that must be specially handled, there are other options. For details, contact your local community or the Veolia Hickory Meadows landfill at 920 853 8553 to determine if they will accept these items.
Hazardous Waste Reduction and Clean Sweeps
Calumet County Clean Sweep is for all Calumet County Residents, Businesses and Farms. Program is available to households, farmers and qualifying business throughout Calumet County.
Households, Businesses and Farms
Friday, May 18, 2012 from 3:00 – 6:00 PM
New Holstein Public Works Garage, 1319 Taft Avenue, New Holstein
Households Only
Saturday, May 19, 2012 from 8:00 – 11:00 AM
Town of Harrison Town Hall, W5298 Hwy 114, Menasha
Many products contain hazardous materials. Improper disposal of these products can cause harm to humans and the environment. This guide will help you identify hazardous products around your home. Keep your home and the environment safe by disposing of hazardous products properly!
Since the late 1990′s, Calumet County has operated Clean Sweep programs for the disposal of hazardous wastes from farms, businesses, and households. Participation by residents and agribusinesses is free, while businesses pay a reduced fee. Programs are held annually for a few weekends each year. Programs for urban Calumet County residents are held in April (usually the weekend closest to Earth Day on April 22) in Menasha and Appleton. Programs in the more rural parts of the county are held the weekend following Mother’s Day, usually in the Town of Harrison and a city.
Hazardous wastes are products whose labels include the words: caution, poison, combustive, danger, warning, flammable and corrosive. Unwanted, unused, or damaged products with these words on the label that are stored in your business, barn, garage, basement, kitchen, storage room, or craft/hobby room can be brought to one of Calumet County’s clean sweep sites. Acceptable materials include, but are not limited to: solvents, pesticides and herbicides (including DDT and chlordane), rodent baits, lead and oil based paints, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, bug sprays and auto products such as old gasoline, transmission fluid and antifreeze. LATEX PAINT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE .
Calumet County businesses that are very small quantity generators (VSQG’s) of hazardous waste are eligible to participate in the Clean Sweep program, but must pay their own disposal costs. Click here for a definition of VSQG and more information on the program.
Composting
Composting is a natural process in which organic materials decompose into a humus-like material that can be used as a natural soil enhancement. There are a number of methods for producing finished compost at home, including composting in a backyard compost bin and using red worms to eat food wastes. For more information, a good place to start learning is to check out the link for DNR’s website, which contains a number of resources.
Home Composting
