On Friday morning, September 6, residents of Clark County had the opportunity to bring their hazardous household waste to the County Garage in Owen as part of a Clean Sweep Program. People on the southern end of the county could go to the Fairgrounds in Neillsville that afternoon. Proper disposal of hazardous chemicals helps protect our surface and ground water.

In addition to household and agricultural hazardous waste, tires, unused or expired medications, well pumps, lawn and garden chemicals, batteries, electronics and appliances were collected. Thanks to a DNR grant all electronics items were taken at no charge.

Clean Sweep programs are necessary because each U.S. citizen generates between six and 15 pounds of household hazardous waste annually. Based on Clark County’s population, that equates to between 208,644 and 521,610 pounds of hazardous household waste each year.

Chemicals become waste when they are no longer wanted or can no longer be used. They can usually be identified by labels that contain words like: caution, warning, danger, poison, toxic, ignitable or flammable, acid, corrosive or reactive. Farmers were allowed to bring 200 pounds of agricultural hazardous waste while households were allowed a combination of five gallons of liquid or 50 pounds of solid hazardous waste at no charge.

The program in Clark County was sponsored by the Clark County Board of Supervisors, Department of Ag, Trade and Consumer Protection grants, and an Atmus Filtration (Cummins) grant. Clark County departments who worked on the program are UW-Extension, Emergency Management, Public Health, Forestry & Parks, Highway and Sheriff’s.

Pre-registration was required due to limited funding.