Wisconsin Ag News Headlines For farmers, businesses and homeowners that need to get rid of unwanted pesticides, chemicals or other hazardous wastes, there are many options still available thanks to the efforts of their local government officials.

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture is once again holding a series of Clean Sweep Programs around the state this year. Between now through December, collections will take place in the following counties: Adams, Ashland, Bayfield, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Crawford, Dodge, Douglas, Dunn, Iowa, Fond du Lac, Grant, Green Lake, Jackson, Juneau, Kenosha, Lafayette, La Crosse, Langlade, Manitowoc, Marathon, Monroe, Oneida, Outagamie, Price, Racine, Rock, Rusk, St. Croix, Sauk, Sawyer, Sheboygan, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago.

"If you have products such as chlordane, rootworm insecticides, DDT, acids, lead paint, mercury or solvents, now is the time to take them to Wisconsin Clean Sweep locations," said Clean Sweep Program Manager, Dennis Presser. The village of Bayside in Milwaukee County hosted a clean Sweep in late April. In Racine County, the villages of Rochester and Waterford, along with the towns of Burlington and Dover had an event in early May but another county collection is set for October.

"Many counties joined together to submit a grant application to our department," Presser said. "The spirit of cooperation among local government is very strong and that helps to provide collection services to a larger number of Wisconsin residents." The events may be just one or two days while others have permanent collection sites that are open for months at a time. An interactive map showing events funded by grants from the department is available on the DATCP website at https://datcpgis.wi.gov/CleanSweep/.

By clicking on the red triangles, more details will be available such as dates, locations and a local contact. If your county or municipality is not listed on the map, contact your local solid waste department to find out if there are other disposal options available. Some local governments do offer collections that are funded by sources other than DATCP.

Businesses will also find better access to lower cost disposal services through Wisconsin Clean Sweep. Businesses must, however, contact the local collection coordinator who will then put them in contact with the hazardous waste hauler for an estimate of disposal costs. Since the Clean Sweep program began in 1990 with the focus on collecting agricultural chemicals, the program has expanded to include household hazardous waste as well.