Dunn County Solid Waste & Recycling Division Newsletter Vol. 16 l Fall 2016

Dunn County Solid Waste & Recycling Division (715) 232-4017 l www.co.dunn.wi.uswww.facebook.com/dunncountyrecycling

2016 Hazardous Waste Collection EventSeptember 14tth and 15th

Take a peek under the sink, in your bathrooms, garages, barns and basements to check for any items that are no longer wanted, so that they can be brought to the 2016 Hazardous Waste Collection Event for responsible disposal. Items that meet the definition of hazardous waste include products that may be poisonous, toxic, flammable, or corrosive and can include paints, cleaners, pesticides, solvents, old fuels, adhesives, aerosols and other unwanted chemicals.

New this year, live or spent ammunition and reloading supplies may also be brought to this event for safe recycling!

This service is provided at no charge for Dunn County households and farms, and includes most hazardous wastes, with the exception of latex paint, which is not covered by the Clean Sweep Grant. Disposal costs for latex paint are: $1 (pint), $2 (quart), $4 (gallon), $20 (five-gallons). The charge is based upon the size of the container, not the amount of paint remaining in the container, so consolidate and save money. Tip: If your latex paint has been dried completely, it can be disposed of in the trash.

Businesses that are classified as a Very Small Quantity Generator (VSQG) may also participate for a small fee. All VSQG’s and farms must pre-register, and complete a “Waste Inventory Form” by Friday September 9, 2016. Pre-registration can be done online using the Business & Farm Registration Form found under the Hazardous Waste page at www.co.dunn.wi.us/HazardousWaste or by calling the Solid Waste & Recycling Division at (715) 232-4017.

Tips for Safe Transportation of Hazardous Materials

If possible, bring items in their original containers, or clearly mark containers with their respective contents. If you do not know what is in the container, inform the attendants. Tighten all covers, caps, and lids to secure the contents of the container. If the original container is leaking, place the original container into a leak-proof secondary container such as a pail, plastic tub, or tray. Secure your materials for safe transport in the trunk of your car, in your truck bed, or on a trailer. Avoid transporting hazardous materials inside driver/ passenger areas. Do Not Mix Chemicals! Chemical solutions are typically stable as manufactured standalone products, but certain mixtures of incompatible chemicals can produce toxic fumes, extreme heat, and possibly even explosive reactions.

2016 Hazardous Waste Collection Locations and Hours

Wednesday, September 14th Colfax Fairgrounds, Colfax, WI 54730 4:00pm – 6:00pm for Farms, VSQG Businesses and Households

Thursday, September 15th Dunn County Transfer Station and Recycling Center E3900 Hwy 29, Menomonie, WI 54751 2:00pm – 3:00pm for VSQG Businesses 3:00pm – 4:00pm for Farms 4:00pm – 7:00pm for Households

Dunn County Solid Waste & Recycling Division’s Facilities and Hours of OperationDunn County Transfer Station and Recycling CenterE3900 Highway 29, in the Town of Menomonie, Menomonie, WI 54751 Mondays 6:30am – 4:30pm Wednesdays 2:00pm – 6:00pm Saturdays 7:00am – 12:00pmDunn County Yard Waste Drop-Off Site:N5515 377th Street, in the Town of Menomonie, Menomonie, WI 54751April 1 through November 15 (weather permitting due to road conditions) Mondays 6:30am – 4:30pm Wednesdays 2:00pm – 6:00pm Saturdays 7:00am – 12:00pmAccepts brush, leaves and garden/grass clippings onlyBoyceville Area Collection Station E2698 County Road N, Boyceville, WI 54725 Wednesdays 12:00pm – 7:00pm (Apr. 1st –Oct. 31st) Wednesdays 12:00pm – 5:00pm (Nov. 1st –Mar. 31st) Saturdays 8:00am – 4:00pmAlso accepts brush, leaves and garden/grass clippings

Colfax Area Collection Station N9417 810th Street, Colfax, WI 54730 Wednesdays 10:00am – 7:00pm (Apr. 1st –Oct. 31st) Wednesdays 10:00am – 5:00pm (Nov. 1st –Mar. 31st) Saturdays 8:00am – 4:00pmAlso accepts brush, leaves and garden/grass clippingsConnorsville Area Collection StationE1285 1256th Avenue, Boyceville, WI 54725 Wednesdays 8:00am – 12:00pm Saturdays 8:00am – 12:00pmDownsville Area Collection StationN2723 440th Street, Downsville, WI 54735 Wednesdays 9:00am – 3:00pm Saturdays 9:00am – 3:00pmElk Mound Area Collection Station 401 570th Avenue, Elk Mound, WI 54734 Wednesdays 8:00am – 7:00pm (Apr. 1st –Oct. 31st) Wednesdays 9:00am – 5:00pm (Nov. 1st –Mar. 31st) Saturdays 8:00am – 4:00pmAlso accepts brush, leaves and garden/grass clippings

Ridgeland Area Collection StationN12184 Highway 25, Ridgeland, WI 54763 Wednesdays 1:00pm – 7:00pm (Apr. 1st – Oct. 31st) Wednesdays 1:00pm – 5:00pm (Nov. 1st – Mar. 31st) Saturdays 8:00am – 12:00pmRock Creek Area Collection StationN1825 980th Street, Rock Falls, WI 54764 Wednesdays 1:00pm – 5:00pm Saturdays 8:00am – 12:00pmSand Creek Area Drop-off Site(Behind the Fire Hall) Saturdays 8:00am – 4:00pmAccepts recyclables only

Dunn County Solid Waste & Recycling Collection StationsThe Dunn County Transfer Station and Recycling Center and Area Collection Stations accept the following materials:

Household GarbageAluminum CansSteel CansGlass Bottles/Jars#1 & #2 Plastic Bottles/Jugs

Cardboard/Brown PaperMixed Paper & MagazinesUsed Oil & Oil FiltersAntifreezeCarpet*

Tires*Scrap MetalsRechargeable Batteries

(Li-Ion, Ni-Cd, Ni-MH)

Automotive Batteries(Lead-Acid)

Printer/Toner CartridgesDemolition/Construction

Materials*

Plastic Film & BagsFurniture*Coin/Button Cell

Batteries

Electronics*TVs/Computers/Monitors*Appliances**Sharps (Needles)***

Save the Date – America Recycles DayNovember 12, 2016

Celebrate America Recycles Day on Saturday, November 12, 2016, at the Dunn County Transfer Station and Recycling Center, at E3900 State Hwy 29, Menomonie, from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Learn what happens to trash and recyclables once they leave the home. Walk through a maze of recyclables, learn interesting trash and recycling facts, see how trash is transported to the landfill, and much more. The event is free and open to all ages and groups.

Plastic Film and Bag Recycling Achievement AwardDunn County has been recognized by the National Association of Counties (NACo) with an Achievement Award for its Plastic Film and Bag Recycling Program. This award “honors innovative and effective county government programs that enhance services for residents.”

Dunn County was one of three Wisconsin counties honored at the NACo Annual Conference and Exposition this past summer in Los Angeles County, California.

By continuing to bring your clean and dry plastic film and bags to any Area Collection Station or the Transfer Station and Recycling Center, you are helping to support and sustain this environmentally responsible program. Dunn County residents have recycled over 12,000 pounds of plastic film and bags since the program started in 2014!

Dunn County Environmental ServicesSolid Waste & Recycling Division800 Wilson Avenue, Room 235Menomonie, WI 54751Phone (715) 232-4017

A permit is required to dispose of household waste at the Dunn County Transfer Station and Recycling Center or any Area Collection Station.

*Fees are associated with this material to cover the costs of special disposal orrecycling — see site attendant for assistance.

** Appliances containing freon must be kept separate from normal scrap metal — seesite attendant for assistance. These include refrigerators, air conditioners, freezers, and dehumidifiers.

*** All sharps must be in a sealed sharps container.

Electronics, TV’s, and Computers/Monitors are only accepted at the Transfer Stationand Recycling Center and the Boyceville, Colfax and Elk Mound AreaCollection Stations.

Inclusion of a company name, logo or brand in this newsletter

is not meant as an endorsement.

Yard Waste

Yard Waste, including grass and garden clippings, brush, and leaves, are acceptedat the Boyceville, Colfax and Elk Mound Area Collection Stations.

The Dunn County Yard Waste Drop-Off Site can also be used for yard waste fromApril 1st through November 15, weather permitting due to road conditions.

The City of Menomonie accepts yard waste from City of Menomonie residents only.

Municipalities with their own Solid Waste and/or Recycling programs: Town of Eau GalleService through Pepin County (715) 672-5709 or by purchasing a solid waste permit from Dunn County Solid Waste and Recycling (715) 232-4017.Town of Hay RiverAccepts recyclables and household waste. For more information, contact Russel Hitz at (715) 632-2143.

Town of Sand Creek For more information about disposing of household trash, contact a local hauler or Doug Westholm (715) 658-1725.Town of Stanton Accepts recyclables and household waste. The town sponsors an Annual Clean-Up Day. For more information, contact Valerie Windsor (715) 665-2568.

Village of KnappWeekly curbside collection of recyclables and household trash. The village sponsors an Annual Clean-Up Day. For more information, contact the Village Hall at (715) 665-2495. City of MenomonieBagged household trash, yard waste and scrap metal is accepted at the City of Menomonie Drop-Off Site: 1601 Gilbert Creek Road or call (715) 232-2302.Hours: Tuesdays 7:00am – 6:00pm Thursdays 7:00am – 6:00pm Fridays 7:00am – 12:00am (June 1–Oct 31) Saturdays 7:00am – 12:00pm

From left to right: Amanda Haffele, Diane Duerst, Morgan Gerk, Mee Yang, Abby Lichtscheidl

General Guidelines for Sorting and Separating Recyclables

Aluminum Cans• Soda cans and aluminum cat food cans• Clean foil and pie tins may be brought to an Area

Collection Station

Glass Bottles and Jars• Food jars and canning jars• Beer, wine, soda and liquor bottles• NO window glass, dishware, ceramics, Pyrex, light bulbs or

broken glass

Steel Cans & Empty Aerosol Cans• Food cans and candy tins• Steel caps and lids from glass bottles and jars • Remove plastic caps and nozzles

Plastic Bottles, Jugs and Jars #1 “PET” Plastic

• Water and soda bottles, peanut butter and jelly jars • Look for the #1 inside the recycling symbol on the bottom #2 “HDPE” Plastic • Milk and laundry detergent jugs, and coffee containers • Look for the #2 inside the recycling symbol on the bottom NO motor oil, transmission fluid or other automotive

product containers, berry, butter, yogurt, cottage cheese, or ice cream containers, or Styrofoam™

Mixed Paper• Newspapers and inserts, phone books, magazines,

flyers, soft cover books, unwanted mail, office and scratch paper,

• Paper must be clean and dry. Soiled paper should be put in the trash

• For brown paper products, see Cardboard below

Cardboard and Brown Paper• Corrugated boxes, cereal, cracker and cake boxes, manila

envelopes, fiber egg cartons and brown paper bags• All boxes should be flattened or broken down• Remove any plastic liners• NO pizza boxes, soda or beer cartons, frozen food boxes,

waxy produce boxes, detergent boxes, soap or toothpaste boxes, milk or juice cartons or hardcover books

REcYcLe gEeK DIcTiOnArYAre you SUPER EXCITED about recycling? Have you ever wondered what all of those strange abbreviations and symbols mean on the bottoms of your bottles, cans, jars, jugs, and other containers? Wonder no more! Known as Resin Identification Codes, these numbers inside the universal recycling symbol identify the plastic resin out of which the product is made, and play a crucial role in the recycling process. Now you can speak recycling vernacular with the best of ‘em!

[PET] Polyethylene terephthalate is commonly used in the production of water and soda bottles, salad dressing containers, mouthwash bottles, and peanut butter containers. PET is the most widely recycled plastic.

[HDPE] High-density polyethylene is commonly used for milk jugs, laundry detergent jugs, and juice bottles. Also widely recycled, HDPE is often made into plastic lumber and plastic furniture.

[PVC] Polyvinyl chloride is used in the manufacture of shrink wrap, plastic toys, table cloths, blister packs for medications, and plastic bags for bedding. Also used for many industrial applications, such as PVC pipe. Typically not recyclable.

[LDPE] Low-density polyethylene is a more flexible cousin of HDPE, and is used in great volumes to make plastic wraps, plastic grocery bags, and other plastic products where greater material flexibility is desired. When recycled, LDPE can be made into plastic picnic tables and plastic lumber.

[PP] Polypropylene is particularly common in the production of plastic yogurt, butter, sour cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream containers. Although PP recycling is one of the least utilized in the food plastics industry, it is frequently recycled into plastic auto parts, garden rakes, and plastic trays.

[PS] Polystyrene, commonly known as Styrofoam™, is one of the most common forms of plastic in use today due to its versatility and affordability. It is used for a wide variety of products, such as take-out coffee cups and food containers, egg cartons, disposable dishware, and packing materials. Not recyclable, but can be repurposed into other products.

[Other] Other unspecified plastics, such as acrylic, nylon, polycarbonate, and multilayer combinations of different resins used to create a wide variety of containers. Some are even made from plants! Unfortunately, recycling opportunities for this particular plastic are extremely limited. This is due to the contaminating effects that it creates when recycled with other plastics, namely PET.

Ammunition and Firearm DisposalRecent household fire? Cleaning-up an estate? Moving? Unwanted gun? These are great reasons to safely and responsibly dispose of ammunition, firearms and reloading supplies with G&P Enterprises LLC, Gunsmith Division (G&P) in Colfax, WI. G&P is owned and operated by George Richards. He is licensed to manufacture, build, repair, and receive/sell guns, and also offers free recycling of ammunition and reloading supplies.

Bring unwanted ammunition and firearms to George at 604 Main Street in Colfax, or contact him at (715) 962-2238 for more information.

Empty all contents and rinse clean Flatten or crush all bottles, jugs and

cans if possible Labels and caps do not need to be removed Breakdown all cardboard boxes Separate recyclables by type

How do I know if a Plastic Container is Recyclable?In Dunn County we can only accept #1 and #2 plastic bottles and jugs for recycling. To determine if a #1 or #2 plastic container is recyclable, first check to see that the mouth of the container is smaller than the body. Then look at the bottom of the item. If a #1 plastic, it will have a 1 inside of a recycling symbol and a button in the center of the bottom of the container. For #2 plastics, a 2 inside of a recycling symbol and a seam running across the bottom means it can be recycled.

Sorting Recyclables in One Bin for Curbside RecyclingMixed Paper, Cardboard & Brown Paper, #1 Plastic Bottles/Jugs, #2 Plastic Bottles/Jugs, Aluminum Cans, Steel Cans, and Glass Bottles/Jars

To assist your trash and recycling hauler, recyclables must be sorted in your curbside recycling bin. Many residents have multiple bins for each type of recyclable, but it’s easy to sort using one bin as well.

Ways to keep recyclables separate using one bin:

Use a brown paper bag for each type of recyclable. If you use plastic shopping bags, please keep them untied so the contents can be easily removed.

Cardboard boxes can be placed next to or underneath the recycling bin once they have been broken down.

Check out our YouTube link about sorting using one bin!

https://youtu.be/SdADp2Ui1zE

Free Mulch to a Good Home Utilize less water, control weeds and complete the natural recycling loop by using mulch! Available for free at the Boyceville, Colfax and Elk Mound Area Collection Stations.

Brush turned in by Dunn County residents is processed once a year to produce mountains of mulch. Simply let an attendant know you are there for the free mulch and they will direct you where to go. A pair of gloves, buckets and a steel rake or garden fork is recommended when loading this material. Don’t forget a tarp to cover open-bed pickup trucks or trailers during hauling.

Mulch has many beneficial uses. It’s great for ground cover, which helps reduce water usage by minimizing evaporation, and keeps undesirable weed growth in check. It also reduces soil erosion on slopes by providing a stable cover. Mulch can be used around trees and flower beds to help retain moisture and moderate soil temperatures for their root structures.

Help yourself to as much mulch as you like!

Recycle Agricultural Plastic Films and BagsRevolution Plastics is an agricultural film manufacturer and recycler from Arkansas with 20 years of experience. After a very successful pilot program in Green County (Southern Wisconsin), Revolution Plastics has decided the time is right to expand recycling of agricultural plastic films and bags into Western Wisconsin.

Revolution Plastics can recycle the following materials:• Used Bale Wrap• Silage/Grain Bags• Bunker Covers• Oxygen Barrier Films• Greenhouse Films• Hoop-House Films• Water Softener Salt Bags

Farms within an 80-mile radius of Eau Claire, WI are able to participate at no cost. Farms that produce/dispose of 3,000 pounds or more of agricultural plastic films each year can receive a covered eight-yard dumpster. Farms that produce/dispose of less than 3,000 pounds each year are highly encouraged to partner with neighboring farms to share a dumpster. Plastic films will be picked up by Revolution Plastics when the dumpsters are full, and the films will be recycled into new industrial trash can liners.

Farmers that are interested in this opportunity are encouraged to sign-up with Revolution Plastics online at www.revolutionplastics.com or by calling (844) 490-7873. The company will begin recycling in Western Wisconsin once 250 farms have signed up for the program. As of late August, 2016, 100 farms have already volunteered for this great opportunity.

Can Aerosol Cans be Recycled? Yes!Empty aerosol cans, such as hairspray, insect repellent, furniture polish, spray paint, cooking sprays, and others may be recycled with steel cans. Before recycling, ensure that the can is completely empty. Once empty, remove the plastic cap and carefully pull out the nozzle, and discard (the cap and nozzle are not currently recyclable). If the can holds non-hazardous materials, such as shaving or whipped cream, the contents may be emptied into the trash, and the can is then ready to be recycled. If any contents of the can remain, or the can becomes inoperable, it must be brought to a Hazardous Waste Collection Event for proper processing.

Giving the Stars and Stripes a Proper RetirementThe red, white and blue flag of the United States of America is not only a symbol of pride but serves as a beacon of freedom and opportunity. Our soldiers go to battle under this flag, and those taken by war come home in caskets draped in these stars and stripes. Therefore, it is only fitting that the flag be retired respectfully and properly once its physical glory has faded with time and the elements.

According to the United States Flag Code, any American flag that is worn, damaged or tattered beyond repair should be disposed of in a respectful and dignified manner. This also includes flags that have been used for decorating graves.

Flags that are ready to be retired can be brought to any Area Collection Station or the Transfer Station and Recycling Center and handed to an attendant. Flags can also be brought to the Dunn County Veterans Service Office located in the Dunn County Community Services Building, Suite 116, at 3001 US Hwy 12 East, in Menomonie, WI.

All flags that are turned in are properly put to rest in a formal flag retirement ceremony conducted by local Veteran groups several times a year.

Changes to Electronics RecyclingIn order to help control costs and fee structures to Dunn County’s electronics recycling program, the Solid Waste & Recycling Division has reduced the number of collection sites accepting electronic items to four locations. Electronics are now only accepted at the Boyceville, Colfax, and Elk Mound Area Collection Stations, and at the Transfer Station and Recycling Center. These four locations receive the largest volumes of various electronics and are located within reasonable driving distances for most residents within Dunn County. Electronics are no longer accepted at the Connorsville, Downsville, Ridgeland, and Rock Creek Area Collection Stations.

Since last year, Dunn County residents have responsibly recycled over 210,000 pounds of electronics! Great job!

Peanut butter jars made of #1 plastic have a button on the bottom.

A #2 plastic Folgers coffee can has a distinct seam running across the bottom of the container. Both of

these items are recyclable.