Chapter 287

287.23 287.23 Financial assistance for responsible units.

287.23(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

287.23(1)(ar) (ar) “Avoided disposal cost” means the amount of the cost of disposing of solid waste that a responsible unit avoids as a result of operating a solid waste management program with one or more of the components specified in s. 287.11 (2) (a) to (h) during the year for which an application is submitted under sub. (4).

287.23(1)(d) (d) “Prevailing market rate” means a reasonable estimate of the price for a recyclable material that will be paid by a collection facility serving the area within the boundaries of a responsible unit during the year for which an application for assistance is submitted.

287.23(2) (2) Department powers and duties.

287.23(2)(a) (a) The department shall develop, implement, and administer a program to provide financial assistance to responsible units. The department shall develop criteria for reporting on and evaluating the program.

287.23(2)(b) (b) Each year the department shall review the recycling programs of at least 5 percent of the recipients of grants in the previous year to ensure that programs and activities funded by grants under this section meet the requirements of this section.

287.23(3) (3) Eligibility.

287.23(3)(ae) (ae) Subject to par. (am), a responsible unit is eligible for assistance under this section for a year after 2000 if the responsible unit has been determined under s. 287.11 to have an effective recycling program.

287.23(3)(am) (am) The department may withhold all or a portion of the assistance for a responsible unit for one year if the department determines any of the following:

287.23(3)(am)1. 1. That the responsible unit has not maintained an effective recycling program following approval of the recycling program under s. 287.11.

287.23(3)(am)2. 2. That the responsible unit spent funds received under this section on activities not eligible for assistance under par. (b).

287.23(3)(b) (b) Only expenses, including capital expenses, anticipated to be incurred for planning, constructing or operating a recycling program with one or more of the components specified in s. 287.11 (2) (a) to (h) and for complying with the prohibition under s. 287.07 (2) during the year for which an application is submitted under sub. (4) are eligible for assistance under the program.

287.23(3)(d) (d) A responsible unit or its designee may not use assistance under this section to pay at retail at a collection facility any amount for a recyclable material in excess of the prevailing market rate.

287.23(3)(e) (e) No expenses related to the purchase of plastic containers for the collection of recyclable materials are eligible for assistance under the program unless the recycled content of the plastic containers is at least 25 percent by weight.

287.23(4) (4) Application. A responsible unit that seeks assistance under the program shall submit an application to the department. To qualify for a full grant, the responsible unit must submit the application no later than October 1 in the year preceding the year for which the assistance is sought. For the purpose of this subsection and sub. (5p), if an application is postmarked, it is considered to be submitted on the date that it is postmarked. An application shall include all of the following:

287.23(4)(a) (a) The information specified in s. 287.09 (2) (b).

287.23(4)(b) (b) Documentation that the assistance, when combined with future anticipated assistance, will result in the responsible unit doing one of the following:

287.23(4)(b)1. 1. Making continued progress in creating an effective recycling program under s. 287.11 by January 1, 1995.

287.23(4)(b)2. 2. Maintaining an effective recycling program following approval of the recycling program under s. 287.11.

287.23(4)(c) (c) If the responsible unit received a grant under this section or 1989 Wisconsin Act 335, section 85 (5) for the grant period preceding the grant period for which the application is being made, a financial report on the activities that have been or are likely to be funded by the grant in that preceding grant period, including a statement of whether any portion of that grant was or is likely to be spent on activities not related to the requirements of this subchapter and, if so, how much of the grant was or is likely to be spent on those activities.

287.23(4)(d) (d) Beginning with the application submitted for 1993, information on financial incentives that the responsible unit is using or plans to use to encourage reduction of the amount of solid waste generated or disposed of in the region.

287.23(4)(e) (e) Information concerning user fees used or proposed to be used to finance costs of the recycling program and, if no user fees are used, an explanation of why they are not used.

287.23(5b) (5b) Grant award. The department shall award a grant under this subsection to each eligible responsible unit that submits a complete grant application under sub. (4) for expenses allowable under sub. (3) (b). The department shall determine the amount of the grants under this subsection as follows:

287.23(5b)(a) (a) Determine the total amount that would have been awarded under this section for 1999 if no grants had been reduced under sub. (5p).

287.23(5b)(b) (b) Determine the amount that each responsible unit received under this section for 1999 or the amount that the responsible unit would have received.

287.23(5b)(c) (c) Award to a responsible unit the proportion of the total amount available for grants under this section that is equal to the proportion of the amount determined under par. (a) that the responsible unit received, or would have received, for 1999 as determined under par. (b).

287.23(5p) (5p) Late applications.

287.23(5p)(a) (a) If a responsible unit submits its application under sub. (4) after October 1 but no later than October 10, the amount of the responsible unit’s grant is 95 percent of the amount determined under sub. (5b).

287.23(5p)(b) (b) If a responsible unit submits its application under sub. (4) after October 10 but no later than October 20, the amount of the responsible unit’s grant is 90 percent of the amount determined under sub. (5b).

287.23(5p)(c) (c) If a responsible unit submits its application under sub. (4) after October 20 but no later than October 30, the amount of the responsible unit’s grant is 75 percent of the amount determined under sub. (5b).

287.23(5p)(d) (d) If a responsible unit submits its application under sub. (4) after October 30, the responsible unit is not eligible for the grant.

287.23(6) (6) Disbursement. The department shall disburse a grant to the applicant after approval, but no later than June 1 of the year for which the grant is made.

287.23 History History: 1989 a. 335; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 16, 75; 1995 a. 27; 1995 a. 227 s. 905; Stats. 1995 s. 287.23; 1997 a. 27, 41; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 16; 2011 a. 32.

287.23 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 542, Wis. adm. code.

287.24 287.24 Recycling consolidation grants.

287.24(1) (1) In this section, “population” means the number of persons residing in a region, as determined by the department based upon the most recent decennial or special census or the most recent, subsequent population estimate under s. 16.96.

287.24(2) (2) The department shall make a grant from the appropriation account under s. 20.370 (6) (bw) for a year to a responsible unit that has been determined under s. 287.11 to have an effective recycling program if any of the following applies:

287.24(2)(a) (a) The responsible unit is a county.

287.24(2)(b) (b) The responsible unit is a federally recognized Indian tribe or band.

287.24(2)(c) (c) The responsible unit has a population of 25,000 or more and consists of one or more municipalities.

287.24(2)(d) (d) The responsible unit is not eligible under par. (a), (b), or (c) but one of the following applies:

287.24(2)(d)1. 1. By October 1 in the year preceding the year for which the grant is made, the responsible unit consists of what had been at least 2 responsible units.

287.24(2)(d)2. 2. By October 1 in the year preceding the year for which the grant is made, the responsible unit enters into a cooperative agreement with another responsible unit for the joint provision of at least one of the following elements of an effective recycling program:

287.24(2)(d)2.a. a. Performing comprehensive program planning.

287.24(2)(d)2.b. b. Collecting and transporting recyclable materials.

287.24(2)(d)2.c. c. Sorting recyclable materials at a materials recovery facility.

287.24(2)(d)2.d. d. Developing and distributing educational materials relating to waste reduction, reuse, and recycling.

287.24(2)(d)2.e. e. Carrying out a program of technical assistance to businesses and owners and occupants of multifamily dwellings to increase the availability and convenience of recycling.

287.24(2)(d)2.f. f. Any other program element approved by the department.

287.24(3) (3) Subject to sub. (4), the department shall determine the amount of a grant to a responsible unit under this section as follows:

287.24(3)(a) (a) Divide the amount available under s. 20.370 (6) (bw) for the year by the total population of the responsible units eligible under sub. (2).

287.24(3)(b) (b) Multiply the amount determined under par. (a) by the population of the responsible unit.

287.24(4) (4) A grant under this section plus a grant under s. 287.23 may not exceed the allowable expenses under s. 287.23 (3) (b).

287.24 History History: 2011 a. 32.

287.27 287.27 Materials recovered for reuse or recycling.

287.27(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “materials recovery facility” means a facility where the materials specified in sub. (4) (b) or s. 287.07 (3) or (4), not mixed with other solid waste, are processed for reuse or recycling by conversion into a consumer product or a product which is used as a raw material in a commercial or industrial process. “Materials recovery facility” does not include a facility operated by a pulp or paper mill which utilizes fiber or paper that has been separated from waste for use as a raw material in a commercial product.

287.27(2) (2) Reports by materials recovery facilities. Annually, the owner or operator of a materials recovery facility shall report to the department the amount of each of the materials specified in s. 287.07 (3) or (4) and any other materials specified by the department under sub. (4) (b) that the materials recovery facility receives and that were recovered from waste generated in this state.

287.27(3) (3) Reports by trade associations. A trade association may submit a report to the department containing the information required under sub. (2) in aggregate form for 2 or more materials recovery facilities that are affiliated with the trade association. A report under this subsection shall identify each materials recovery facility for which it is reporting. A materials recovery facility that is covered by a report under this subsection shall be considered to be in compliance with sub. (2).

287.27(4) (4) Rules. The department, by rule, may do any of the following:

287.27(4)(a) (a) Specify the form and manner of reporting under subs. (2) and (3).

287.27(4)(b) (b) Specify additional materials that the owner or operator of a materials recovery facility must report under sub. (2) or (3).

287.27(4)(c) (c) Exempt certain materials recovery facilities from all or a part of the reporting requirements of subs. (2) and (3) if the reports are not needed for the calculation of solid waste reuse or recycling rates under s. 287.19 (1) (a) 2.

287.27 History History: 1997 a. 60.

287.29 287.29 Iron and steel slag recovery.

287.29(1) (1) In this section, “slag” means slag generated by the production or processing of iron or steel that is managed as an item of value in a controlled manner and is not discarded.

287.29(2) (2) No person may use unencapsulated slag on private property within 100 feet of a residential dwelling or a building intended to be used in whole or in part as a school or daycare facility without prior approval of the department.

287.29 History History: 2017 a. 285.

subch. IV of ch. 287 SUBCHAPTER IV

LITTERING

287.81 287.81 Littering.

287.81(1) (1) In this section:

287.81(1)(a) (a) “Aircraft” means any structure invented, used or designed for navigation or flight in the air.

287.81(1)(am) (am) “Highway” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (22).

287.81(1)(as) (as) “Large item” means an appliance, an item of furniture, a tire, a vehicle, a boat, an aircraft, building materials, or demolition waste.

287.81(1)(b) (b) “Vehicle” has the meaning given in s. 340.01 (74), but includes an electric scooter, as defined in s. 340.01 (15ps), an electric personal assistive mobility device, as defined in s. 340.01 (15pm), and an all-terrain vehicle, as defined in s. 340.01 (2g).

287.81(1)(c) (c) “Waters of the state” has the meaning given in s. 281.01 (18).

287.81(2) (2) Except as provided in sub. (3), a person who does any of the following may be required to forfeit not more than $500:

287.81(2)(a) (a) Deposits or discharges any solid waste on or along any highway, in any waters of the state, on the ice of any waters of the state or on any other public or private property.

287.81(2)(b) (b) Permits any solid waste to be thrown from a vehicle operated by the person.

287.81(2)(c) (c) Fails to remove within 30 days or otherwise abandons any automobile, boat or other vehicle in the waters of the state.

287.81(2)(d) (d) Owns an aircraft that has crashed in the waters of the state and fails to remove the aircraft from those waters within 30 days after the crash, within 30 days after June 15, 1991, or within 30 days after the national transportation safety board pursuant to an investigation under 49 CFR Part 831 authorizes its removal, whichever is latest.

287.81(2m) (2m) Except as provided in sub. (3), a person who deposits any large item on or along any highway, in any waters of the state, on the ice of any waters of the state, or on any other public or private property shall forfeit not more than $1,000.

287.81(3) (3) 

287.81(3)(a) (a) Subsections (2) (a) and (2m) do not apply to a person who places solid waste in a receptacle designed for solid waste storage that is located along a highway or on other public or private property.

287.81(3)(b) (b) Subsections (2) and (2m) do not apply to a person who deposits or discharges solid waste in conformance with chs. 30, 31, 281 to 285 or 289 to 299 or a permit, license or other approval issued by the department under those chapters.

287.81 History History: 1989 a. 335; 1991 a. 19; 1995 a. 227 s. 917; Stats. 1995 s. 287.81; 2001 a. 90; 2009 a. 368; 2011 a. 265; 2019 a. 11.

287.81 Annotation Discarding a cigarette butt onto a highway violates this section’s prohibition of discharging “any solid waste on or along any highway.” State v. Iverson, 2015 WI 101, 365 Wis. 2d 302, 871 N.W.2d 661, 14-0515.

subch. V of ch. 287 SUBCHAPTER V