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Did you know . . . ?
Five recycled plastic bottles can be turned into enough fill for an adult ski jacket. Winter coats, scarves, gloves and boots can all be made from recycled materials. Many companies now line winter coats and jackets with polyester fibers made from recycled plastics. Consumers can look for linings and fleece products made from recycled plastic soda bottles or boots made from old rubber tires.
Garbage & Recycling
To avoid your recycling materials becoming mixed up with garbage materials, please put your recyclables in a clear plastic garbage bag. This will enable the people who pick up the garbage and recyclables to be able to see clearly what is recylable and what is garbage. For more information please contact the clerk at (608) 424-3848
Clean Sweep handouts.
The Special Waste form is unchanged from last year. The Ag and VSQG forms have updated phone numbers. Please note that forms will be updated as needed, and may not necessarily be updated annually. Current copies of all our handouts are available on our website at: http://www.danecountycleansweep.com/loc_gov.aspx
Clean Sweep/Electronic Recycling Information (608) 838-3212
Landfill Information (608) 838-9555
Recycling News
New USGS study: Coal tar sealcoats are persistent source of toxics
Research by the United States Geological Survey shows high concentrations of toxic chemicals in runoff from parking lots sealcoated with coal tar months after the sealcoat was applied.
Read the full story at the Solid & Hazardous Waste Education Center [exit DNR]
Wisconsin looks to plastics to improve recycling
With $64,000,000 worth of plastic scrap still being landfilled throughout the state, the DNR’s Council on Recycling has approved a handful of stakeholder recommendations to boost plastics recycling and create jobs in the process.
Read the full story at Resource Recycling [exit DNR]
Wisconsin recycling continues apace
Wisconsin continues to make a name for itself as a national leader in recycling.
Read the full story at Resource Recycling [exit DNR]
Madison’s automated trash pickup better for employees, residents
Automated trash pickup has allowed the growing City of Madison to be more efficient with collections, to decrease job-related injuries and to expand recycling, with more improvements scheduled in coming years.
Read the full story at Madison.com [exit DNR]
Waste Management's renewable energy projects create enough energy to power over 1 million homes.
All garbage and recycling must be on the curb before 6:00 a.m. on collection days. If your garbage and recycling is not out by that time, the garbage truck will not come back to pick it up. Special arrangements with the company will need to be made at a possible additional charge.
The Clean Sweep Program (see Links page) provides an opportunity for residents of Dane County to safely dispose of household hazardous materials, free of charge. The Product Exchange offers high quality and usable products brought into Clean Sweep free of charge.
The Small Business Collection Program accepts materials from small businesses and local untis of government. These materials are accepted on Thursday mornings by appointment. Prior arrangements need to be made before bringing materials to the site, and there is a per pound charge for materials brougt to the program. Business owners are reminded that they need to allow enough time to request registration materials and to submit and inventory of the materials for recycling. Registration is available on our web site at www.danecountycleansweep.com or by call (608) 243-0347 for more information.
Clean Sweep will also accept agriculturally-generated wastes. A Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection grant underwrites the disposal costs so ther is no cost to farmers, and agricultural businesses only pay half the normal business cost. All farmers and agricultural-related businesses from Dane County are invited to participate. Agricultural Clean Sweep Program participation is by appointment only, and events are held every Thursday morning during the Clean Sweep season from May through October at the Fish Hatchery Road site. Registrations is available on our web site at www.danecountycleansweep.com.
E-Cycle Wisconsin registered collection sites by county (partial list)
"Permanent" sites open on a regular basis. "Temporary" sites are events or open on a limited basis. Contract a collector to lean about fees and restrictions.
Dane County
- American TV & Appliance of Madison Inc. www.americantv.com Permanent 5215 High Crossing Blvd. Madison WI 53718 (920) 733-1000
- Best Buy www.bestbuy.com E Madison WI Permanent 2452 E Springs Drive, East Towne, Madison WI 53704 and W Madison WI Permanent, 7357 W Towne Way, Madison WI 53719 (612) 291-3406
- Cascade Asset Management www.cascade-assets.com Permanent 6701 Manufacturers Dr., Madison WI 53704 (608) 222-4800 ext. 6637
- File 13 E-Waste Solutions LLC www.file13usa.com Permanent 405 Investment Ct., Verona WI 53593 (608) 848-0013
- Goodwill Industries of South Central WI www.goodwilscwi.org Permanent 1302 Mendota Street, 651 State Street, 2127 E. Springs Drive, 4530 Verona Avenue, 6561 University Avenue, and 2501 Royal Ave. all of Madison.
View recycling information at http://dnr.wi.gov
Recycle old electronics during spring cleaning to give gadgets a new life
Weekly News article published: April 16, 2013 by the Central Office
Electronics shouldn’t be put in the trash or at the curb
MADISON -- It’s the time of the year that many people empty basements, clean out drawers and find new homes for all the clutter that accumulated over the winter. For a growing number of Wisconsin residents that clutter includes used electronics like computers, cell phones or TVs.
A 2010 DNR survey estimated that Wisconsin households had 7.4 million TVs, 16 percent of which were unused, and 4.3 million computers, 26 percent of which were unused.
While it may be tempting to toss the old cell phones in the trash with the rest of the basement junk, or haul the TV to the curb, state law bans most electronics from Wisconsin’s landfills and incinerators. Instead, residents can use E-Cycle Wisconsin, a DNR-managed program funded by electronics manufacturers, to recycle electronics at more than 400 locations around the state.
Recently, the DNR asked Wisconsin landfill and solid waste transfer station operators if the 2010 ban appears to be reducing the amount of e-waste that shows up on their properties. While all operators said they see fewer electronics than before the ban, 50 percent are still having electronics abandoned at their facilities and 80 percent still see electronics arrive in garbage loads at least once or twice a month.
“It’s unfortunate that these valuable materials are being wasted,” said Sarah Murray, DNR E-Cycle Wisconsin coordinator. “The steel, aluminum, plastic and precious metals inside our electronics are commodities that have real value if properly recycled. They do nothing for us in landfills.”
Many communities are working to educate residents about the disposal ban by refusing to pick up TVs and other electronics left at the curb. In Milwaukee, for example, putting banned electronics at the curb is an ordinance violation. When garbage crews encounter such an item, they place a bright orange sticker on it, explaining that the item is banned from the landfill and where to take it for recycling. City sanitation inspectors may also issue the property owner a citation for the violation.
In more rural areas, communities have distributed electronics recycling information in tax bills, and many county and local governments have sponsored one-day collection events during spring, summer and fall.
Collection events and permanent drop-off sites registered with E-Cycle Wisconsin have collected more than 100 million pounds of electronics for recycling since the program began in 2010.
The DNR maintains an up-to-date list of collection sites registered with E-Cycle Wisconsin. Residents can find permanent drop-off sites and upcoming special collection events in their county. Many sites accept electronics for free, though some may charge a small fee for some items. Go to dnr.wi.gov and search “ecycle” for details.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Sarah Murray, (608) 264-6001