Chapter 287

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.

287.21 History History: 1989 a. 335; 1995 a. 227 s. 902; Stats. 1995 s. 287.21; 2015 a. 7.

287.215 287.215 Yard waste publicity. The department shall conduct activities to make the public aware of the need to cease disposing of yard waste in solid waste disposal facilities.

287.215 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 32 s. 79; Stats. 1989 s. 159.215; 1995 a. 227 s. 903; Stats. 1995 s. 287.215.

287.22 287.22 Council on recycling.

287.22(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “council” means the council on recycling.

287.22(2) (2) Duties. The council shall do all of the following:

287.22(2)(a) (a) Promote the efficient and prompt implementation of state programs related to solid waste reduction, recovery and recycling.

287.22(2)(b) (b) Advise and assist state agencies and authorities and county and municipal officials in the coordination of programs and the exchange of information related to solid waste reduction, recovery and recycling. This assistance, whenever practical, shall be provided with an emphasis on documents and material easy to read and understand by the general public.

287.22(2)(c) (c) Advise state agencies concerning the promulgation of rules under ss. 100.29, 100.295, and 101.126.

287.22(2)(d) (d) Advise the department and the University of Wisconsin System concerning educational efforts and research related to solid waste reduction, recovery and recycling.

287.22(2)(g) (g) Develop recommendations and cooperate with the packaging industry concerning establishing and implementing standards for recyclable packaging.

287.22(2)(gm) (gm) Develop recommendations, advise and assist county and municipal officials and the automotive service industry to promote the recycling of oil filters used in motor vehicles and other machinery.

287.22(2)(h) (h) Advise the department concerning the development of a statewide plan for public service announcements that would provide information about recycling programs and the benefits of recycling through radio and television announcements produced in this state’s production facilities and designate a liaison with television and radio stations to try to secure the broadcast of the public service announcements.

287.22(2)(i) (i) Advise the governor and the legislature.

287.22(2m) (2m) Status reports. The council may request a status report from any state agency or authority implementing a solid waste reduction, recovery or recycling program.

287.22(3) (3) Subcommittees. The council may create subcommittees to assist in its work. Subcommittee members may include members of the council, state employees and representatives of counties and municipalities and others.

287.22(4) (4) Assistance. State agencies shall assist the council in fulfilling its duties to the fullest extent possible.

287.22 History History: 1989 a. 335; 1993 a. 75; 1995 a. 227 s. 904; Stats. 1995 s. 287.22; 1997 a. 243; 2003 a. 33.

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: