Chapter 287

287.17(10)(bm)1. 1. The department shall keep confidential any part of a record, report, or other information obtained in the administration of this section upon receiving an application for confidential status by any person containing a showing satisfactory to the department that the part of a record, report, or other information would, if made public, divulge a method or process that is entitled to protection as a trade secret, as defined in s. 134.90 (1) (c), of that person.

287.17(10)(bm)2. 2. If the department refuses to release information on the grounds that it is confidential under subd. 1. and anyone challenges that refusal, the department shall inform the person who submitted the application under subd. 1. of that challenge. Unless that person authorizes the department to release the information, that person shall pay the reasonable costs incurred by this state to defend the refusal to release the information.

287.17(10)(bm)3. 3. Subdivision 1. does not prevent the disclosure of any information to a representative of the department for the purpose of administering this section or to an officer, employee, or authorized representative of the federal government for the purpose of administering federal law. When the department provides information that is confidential under subd. 1. to the federal government, the department shall also provide a copy of the application for confidential status.

287.17(10)(c) (c) Review of formula.

287.17(10)(c)1. 1. The department shall annually review all of the following:

287.17(10)(c)1.b. b. The estimated cost of recycling under sub. (4) (d) 4.

287.17(10)(c)1.c. c. The registration fees under sub. (4) (b).

287.17(10)(c)1.d. d. The multiplier for the weight of eligible electronic devices collected from households or covered schools in rural counties under sub. (4) (f).

287.17(10)(c)2. 2. If the department determines that any of the values under subd. 1. b. to d. should be changed in order to improve the effectiveness of the program under this section or to provide more recycling opportunities to rural areas of this state, the department shall report its recommendations for changes under s. 13.172 (3) to the committee of each house of the legislature with jurisdiction over solid waste policy.

287.17(10)(cm) (cm) Report concerning sales information. The department shall evaluate the accuracy of the information provided by manufacturers under sub. (5) (a) in 2010 and whether the weight of each manufacturer’s covered electronic devices sold in this state should be based on national sales data obtained from 3rd parties. Before December 1, 2011, the department shall report the results of its evaluation to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the governor.

287.17(10)(d) (d) Annual report. Before December 1 of each program year prior to the transition year, and before June 1 of each program year beginning with the transition year, the department shall provide a report on the program under this section to the legislature under s. 13.172 (2) and to the governor. The department shall include all of the following in the report:

287.17(10)(d)1. 1. The total weight of eligible electronic devices recycled.

287.17(10)(d)2. 2. A summary of the information provided by manufacturers and recyclers under subs. (5) and (8).

287.17(10)(d)3. 3. Information concerning the recycling programs used by manufacturers to recycle eligible electronic devices.

287.17(10)(d)4. 4. Information concerning the collection and recycling of eligible electronic devices by persons other than registered manufacturers, registered collectors, and registered recyclers.

287.17(10)(d)5. 5. Information about any disposal of eligible electronic devices in landfills and any burning of eligible electronic devices in solid waste treatment facilities in this state.

287.17(10)(d)6. 6. A description of any actions taken to enforce the requirements of this section.

287.17(10)(d)7. 7. Any recommendations to apply the requirements under sub. (2) to additional kinds of devices.

287.17(10)(e) (e) Report concerning federal legislation. If a federal law relating to the collection and recycling of covered electronic devices sold in the United States is enacted, the department shall prepare a report describing the effect of the federal law and shall submit the report under s. 13.172 (3) to the committee of each house of the legislature with jurisdiction over solid waste policy.

287.17(10)(f) (f) Outreach and communication.

287.17(10)(f)1. 1. The department shall promote public participation in the collection and recycling of eligible electronic devices by and on behalf of manufacturers through education and outreach activities. The department shall facilitate communications between local governments, persons operating solid waste collection and recycling centers, and manufacturers to ensure that manufacturers are aware of eligible electronic devices that are available for recycling.

287.17(10)(f)2. 2. The department shall assist recyclers to identify federal and state requirements concerning the storage, transportation, export, and processing of eligible electronic devices and materials derived from eligible electronic devices. The department shall assist collectors to identify health, environmental, safety, and financial responsibility requirements applicable to collectors.

287.17(10)(fm) (fm) Rural electronics recycling grants. The department shall create and administer a program to provide grants from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (4) (hr), if sufficient program revenue is available, to expand electronics recycling and recovery programs in underserved areas of the state. Grants under this paragraph may be provided to local units of government, tribal governing bodies, businesses, and nonprofit entities, including religious nonprofit entities, for the purpose of hosting a collection site or collection event or series of collection sites or collection events. Grants provided under this paragraph may be used to rent space or acquire materials necessary to host the collection site or collection event, advertise for the site or event, cover staff expenses for the site or event, including administrative costs, provide for the transportation of collected devices to a registered recycler, and cover other expenses allowed by the department. A recipient of a grant under this paragraph shall provide matching funds equal to at least 20 percent of the cost of the project for which the grant is provided. The department shall award grants under this paragraph in the following order of priority:

287.17(10)(fm)1. 1. Projects that will take place in a county that has no permanent collection site registered under sub. (7) (a) and did not have a collection event registered under sub. (7) (a) during the previous program year.

287.17(10)(fm)2. 2. Projects that will take place in a county that has no permanent collection site registered under sub. (7) (a) that is open to all residents.

287.17(10)(fm)3. 3. Projects that will take place in a municipality with a population of 5,000 or more that does not have a permanent collection site registered under sub. (7) (a).

287.17(10)(fm)4. 4. Projects that do not meet the requirements under subds. 1. to 3., at the determination of the department.

287.17(10)(g) (g) Cooperation with other states. The department may cooperate with other states to effectuate the program under this section. The department may, with other states, operate a regional system for creating, trading, and selling credits for recycling eligible electronic devices.

287.17(10)(h) (h) Suspension and revocation. The department may revoke the registration of a manufacturer who violates sub. (2) (a), (3), (4), or (5). The department may suspend or revoke the registration of a collector or recycler who violates sub. (7) or (8).

287.17(10)(i) (i) Addition or exemption of eligible electronic devices. If the department determines that the disposal or burning of a kind of electronic device that is not listed in sub. (1) (gs) in a solid waste facility may be harmful to human health or the environment, the department may promulgate a rule specifying that the kind of electronic device is an eligible electronic device, is subject to s. 287.07 (5) (a), or both. If the department determines that the disposal or burning of a kind of electronic device that is listed in sub. (1) (gs) or s. 287.07 (5) (a) in a solid waste facility is not harmful to human health and is not harmful to the environment or if the department determines that it is not feasible to require the recycling of a kind of electronic device that is listed in sub. (1) (gs) or s. 287.07 (5) (a), the department may promulgate a rule specifying that the kind of electronic device is not an eligible electronic device, is not subject to s. 287.07 (5) (a), or both. The department may not promulgate a rule under this paragraph that takes effect before October 1, 2011.

287.17(10)(j) (j) Audits. The department may perform or contract for the performance of an audit of the activities of a registered collector or registered recycler. If the department performs or contracts for the performance of an audit of a collector or recycler during the first 3 program years in which the collector or recycler is registered under sub. (7) or (8) (a), the collector or recycler shall pay 25 percent of the cost of the audit. If the department performs or contracts for the performance of an audit of a collector or recycler after the first 3 program years in which the collector or recycler is registered, the collector or recycler shall pay 50 percent of the cost of the audit.

287.17(10)(k) (k) Modification of registration fee. The department may modify the registration fees under sub. (4) (b) 1. and 2. and (be) 1. and 2. by rule.

287.17(11) (11) Penalties.

287.17(11)(a) (a) Manufacturer. Any manufacturer who violates this section may be required to forfeit not more than $10,000 for each violation.

287.17(11)(b) (b) Others. Any person, other than a manufacturer, who violates this section may be required to forfeit not more than $1,000 for each violation.

287.17(12) (12) Electronic waste cleanup in Rusk, Price, and Washington counties. The department shall contract with 3rd parties to perform any necessary assessment, collection, transportation, and disposal of cathode-ray tube glass and related waste generated from activities undertaken by 5R Processors and located at properties in Rusk, Price, or Washington counties that are not owned by 5R Processors or its successors. Costs cannot exceed $4,500,000 under these contracts.

287.17 History History: 2009 a. 50; 2011 a. 32, 258; 2011 a. 257 s. 56; 2015 a. 197 s. 51; 2021 a. 79, 234; 2021 a. 240 ss. 20, 30; 2023 a. 19, 108; s. 35.17 correction in (12).

287.18 287.18 Lead acid battery collection.

287.18(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

287.18(1)(a) (a) “Battery” means a lead acid battery.

287.18(1)(b) (b) “Consumer” means a person who uses a battery.

287.18(1)(bm) (bm) “Deposit” means an amount charged upon the sale of an item, whether as a separate charge or included in the original purchase price of the item, that is refunded when the item, or another item of the same kind, is relinquished to the person who sold the item. “Deposit” includes a core charge.

287.18(1)(c) (c) “Retailer” means a person who sells batteries to consumers.

287.18(1m) (1m) Notice.

287.18(1m)(a) (a) The department shall provide a notice concerning the disposal of batteries to all retailers. The notice shall be 8.5 inches by 11 inches and all notices shall be of the same color, typeface and type size. The notice shall include all of the following information:

287.18(1m)(a)1. 1. That it is illegal to dispose of a motor vehicle battery or other battery in a landfill or incinerator.

287.18(1m)(a)2. 2. That batteries should be recycled.

287.18(1m)(a)3. 3. That state law requires retailers to accept used batteries in trade and in some other instances.

287.18(1m)(b) (b) A retailer shall post the notice provided under par. (a) in a place where it can be seen by consumers.

287.18(2) (2) Sale and installation.

287.18(2)(a) (a) A retailer who sells a battery to a consumer and installs the battery shall accept the used battery unless the consumer refuses to relinquish the used battery.

287.18(2)(b) (b) If the consumer refuses to relinquish the used battery under par. (a), the retailer shall comply with sub. (3).

287.18(3) (3) Counter sales.

287.18(3)(a) (a) If a retailer sells a battery to a consumer without installing the battery or if sub. (2) (b) applies, the retailer shall do all of the following:

287.18(3)(a)2. 2. Offer to take the consumer’s used battery in trade.

287.18(3)(a)3. 3. Subject to par. (b), accept the consumer’s used battery in trade for a new battery without charge or time limit, during normal business hours, at any business location owned or operated by the retailer.

287.18(3)(b) (b) A retailer accepting a used battery in trade under par. (a) 3. may require the consumer to provide proof that the consumer purchased a battery from the retailer.

287.18(4) (4) Acceptance of other batteries.

287.18(4)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), if a person delivers to a retailer a used battery to which sub. (3) (a) 3. does not apply, the retailer shall accept the used battery. A retailer may charge up to $3 for each battery delivered under this paragraph.

287.18(4)(b) (b) A retailer is not required to accept more than 2 batteries delivered under this subsection by a person on one day.

287.18(5) (5) Deposit. A retailer shall charge a deposit of $10 on the sale of an automotive type replacement battery, such as an automobile, truck, motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, utility terrain vehicle, snowmobile, golf cart, tractor, lawn and garden equipment, or marine battery or other battery used to start an internal combustion engine. The retailer shall refund the deposit if the consumer delivers the battery to the retailer under sub. (3) (a) 3.

287.18 History History: 1989 a. 335; 1991 a. 32; 1995 a. 227 s. 899; Stats. 1995 s. 287.18; 2013 a. 305.

287.185 287.185 Disposal of mercuric oxide batteries.

287.185(1) (1) In this section:

287.185(1)(a) (a) “Mercuric oxide battery” has the meaning given in s. 100.27 (1) (c).

287.185(1)(b) (b) “Mercuric oxide button cell battery” has the meaning given in s. 100.27 (1) (d).

287.185(1)(c) (c) “Waste mercuric oxide battery” means a mercuric oxide battery that is no longer suitable for its original purpose due to use, wear, damage or defect.

287.185(2) (2) Beginning on July 1, 1994, no person, except for a person operating a collection site identified under s. 100.27 (5) (a), may treat, store or dispose of a waste mercuric oxide battery, other than a mercuric oxide button cell battery, except by sending it to a collection site identified under s. 100.27 (5) (a).

287.185(3) (3) A person operating a collection site identified under s. 100.27 (5) (a) shall recycle or have recycled all collected waste mercuric oxide batteries unless no reasonable alternative exists.

287.185 History History: 1993 a. 74; 1995 a. 227 s. 900; Stats. 1995 s. 287.185.

287.19 287.19 Statewide technical assistance.

287.19(1) (1) Duties. The department shall provide assistance to individuals, groups, businesses, state agencies, counties and municipalities in all aspects of recycling consistent with this subchapter, and whenever practical shall be provided with an emphasis on documents and material easy to read and understand by the general public. This assistance may be provided through programs established under s. 287.21 and shall include all of the following: 

287.19(1)(a) (a) Waste generation.

287.19(1)(a)1. 1. Providing information on how to conduct a survey of the composition of solid waste and, as appropriate, conducting one or more surveys.

287.19(1)(a)2. 2. Maintaining current estimates of the amount of components of solid waste specified in s. 287.07 generated by categories of businesses, industries, municipalities and other governmental entities and of the amount of material that is recovered from solid waste for reuse or recycling.

287.19(1)(a)3. 3. Providing solid waste generators with information on how to manage solid waste consistent with s. 287.05 (12).

287.19(1)(b) (b) Recycling programs. With respect to programs created under s. 287.09 (2) (a):

287.19(1)(b)1. 1. Identifying appropriate qualifications of program coordinators and staff.

287.19(1)(b)2. 2. Preparing sample ordinances, procedural handbooks and contracts.

287.19(1)(b)3. 3. Identifying sources of information regarding the creation and operation of a municipal or county program.

287.19(1)(b)4. 4. Providing advice, upon the request of a municipality or county, on implementing the municipality’s or county’s solid waste management plan.

287.19(2) (2) Powers. In providing assistance under sub. (1), the department may provide assistance relating to the marketing of materials recovered from solid waste.

287.19 History History: 1989 a. 335; 1993 a. 75; 1995 a. 227 s. 901; Stats. 1995 s. 287.19; 1997 a. 60; 2003 a. 33.

287.21 287.21 Statewide education program. The department shall collect, prepare and disseminate information and conduct educational and training programs designed to assist in the implementation of solid waste management programs under ss. 287.01 to 287.27, enhance municipal and county solid waste management programs under s. 287.09 (2) (a) and inform the public of the relationship among an individual’s consumption of goods and services, the generation of different types and quantities of solid waste and the implementation of the solid waste management priorities in s. 287.05 (12). The department shall prepare the information and programs on a statewide basis for the following groups:

287.21(1) (1) Municipal, county and state officials and employees.

287.21(2) (2) Kindergarten through graduate students and teachers.

287.21(3) (3) Private solid waste scrap brokers, dealers and processors.

287.21(4) (4) Businesses that use or could use recycled materials or that produce or could produce products from recycled materials and persons who provide support services to those businesses.

287.21(5) (5) The general public.