Registrations being accepted for county Clean Sweep

Ozaukee County will again host a spring Clean Sweep collection in an effort to grow a program that was revived last year to provide residents with an affordable and responsible way to dispose of household and agricultural hazardous waste and tires.

“This is really a feel-good program because it gives people a convenient way to dispose of hazardous materials while protecting the environment,” said Andy Holschbach, director of the county’s Land and Water Management Department, which oversees the program.

“There’s a lot of interest in this program, and this year we really hope it grows.”

Residents and farmers will be able to drop off waste at the county Highway Department shop in the Town of Cedarburg, 1221 Hilltop Dr., from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 12.

There is a $20 fee for each vehicle-load of waste, as well as fees for tire disposal.

To drop off waste, residents must register and pay the $20 fee ahead of time online at www.co.ozaukee.wi.us/295/Land-Water-Management. Residents can also print registration forms and mail them and checks payable to Ozaukee County to the Land and Water Management Department, 121 W. Main St., Room 223, Port Washington, 53074, or the forms and fees can be dropped off at the department.

Registrations are due Tuesday, May 8. The first 400 registrations will be accepted.

Residents do not need to register to dispose of  tires. 

Small businesses that qualify as Very Small Quantity Generators (VSOG) may also dispose of hazardous waste at a reduced cost. Registration information is available on the Land and Water Management website.

The collection is open to all county residents except those from the City of Port Washington, who are able to dispose of household hazardous waste throughout the year at the Veolia facility in Port Washington. City residents are, however, able to drop off tires at the county collection.

The drop-off, which is staffed by Veolia employees, is designed to be quick and easy, Holschbach said. 

“You can just drive up, pop your trunk and people will take your materials away,” he said. “We can handle 100 vehicles per hour.”

Generally, materials such as such as oil-based paint, adhesives, solvents, pesticides, insecticides and antifreeze will be accepted. A complete list can be found on the county website.

Materials that will be not be accepted include latex paints and stains, compressed gas cylinders and propane tanks, motor oil, ammunition and items such as smoke detectors that contain radioactive materials.

The county, which in 2016 was among only 18 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties that didn’t have a Clean Sweep collection, resurrected the program last year after discontinuing it years earlier for financial reasons. About 170 people participated last year, Holschbach said.

The program costs about $50,000 annually and is paid for with a $35,000 contribution from the county and a $12,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection. Disposal fees make up the balance.