Colfax Solid Waste & Recycling plans Clean Sweep June 6
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By LeAnn R. Ralph
COLFAX — If you live in the villages of Elk Mound or Colfax or the Towns of Colfax, Grant, Elk Mound, Otter Creek, Spring Brook, Tainter or Wilson, you are eligible to participate in a Clean Sweep event June 6.
The Clean Sweep will be held at the Colfax Fairgrounds from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. and will be free for members of the Colfax and Elk Mound collection sites that are under the management of Colfax Solid Waste & Recycling.
“The Clean Sweep will only be taking items that the village does not offer for services at our collection sites,” said Lynn Niggemann, village administrator-clerk-treasurer.
Those who have the permit displayed in their vehicles that is required for access to the collection sites will be able to bring their hazardous waste items to the Clean Sweep for free.
Any non-members who live outside of the municipalities that are part of the Colfax Responsible Unit will be required to buy a permit for $100 to bring items to the Clean Sweep.
The purchased permit will allow non-members to bring their hazardous items to the Clean Sweep and also will allow them to bring trash and recyclables to the Colfax or Elk Mound collection sites for the rest of the year, Niggemann said.
In addition, if the Colfax Solid Waste & Recycling Committee decides to hold another Clean Sweep this fall, those who purchased permits will be eligible for the fall Clean Sweep as well, she said.
The Colfax and Elk Mound sites are “single stream” for recyclables, which means you do not have to sort the recyclable items.
Permits
All residents who live in the villages of Colfax or Elk Mound or the Towns of Colfax, Grant, Elk Mound, Otter Creek, Spring Brook, Tainter or Wilson should have received solid waste and recycling permits to hang from the rearview mirror of your vehicle in the mail in December of last year from your municipal clerk.
If you cannot find your permit and want to take part in the Clean Sweep, you can contact your local municipal clerk for a replacement permit.
Even if you contract with a private hauler, such as Viking Disposal or GFL Environmental, and live in a member municipality, you still should have received a Colfax Solid Waste & Recycling Permit in the mail.
If you are a renter and you did not receive a permit for Colfax Solid Waste & Recycling, contact your landlord.
Hazardous materials
Items that will be accepted at the Clean Sweep include:
• Automotive — antifreeze, brake fluid, degreasers, gasoline (used motor oil or oil filters will not be accepted at the Clean Sweep because you can bring those items to the collection site at either Colfax or Elk Mound).
• Cleaners — concrete cleaners, polish and spot removers, swimming pool chemicals.
• Other materials — aerosol cans (not empty), acids and bases, rodent bait and mercury.
• Paints or solvents — oil and lead-based paint (no latex paint; latex paint can be dried in the can and disposed of in the trash); oil based stains and polyurethanes; adhesives; turpentine, strippers and thinners.
• Pesticides — insecticides, fertilizer with weed killer, herbicides, fungicides, rodenticides.
Unacceptable items
Items that can be taken to the Colfax or Elk Mound collection sites are not acceptable for the Clean Sweep.
Unacceptable items include appliances, batteries and bulbs.
Gas tanks, such as propane, helium and spray foam, also are not acceptable.
Additional unacceptable items are explosives, such as ammunition and fireworks, latex paint, and medical waste and medications, and sharps.
Smoke detectors, tires, used oil, fire extinguishers and electronics are not acceptable at the Clean Sweep as well.
Questions?
If you have questions about the Clean Sweep event, contact Niggemann at 715-962-3311 or send her an e-mail message at clerktreasurer@villageofcolfaxwi.org.
You can also visit the village of Colfax’s website for more information about the Clean Sweep event at www.villageofcolfaxwi.org.
For a complete list of items that the collection sites accept, click on the link for “fee list” for 2023.