Dumps O’er Wisconsin
Somewhere back in the shadowy recesses of your mind (of course, some of us have longer shadows than others) you may recall that the name Wisconsin originates from Menominee roots and roughly means “the gathering of waters”. Well Wisconsin is fast becoming a gathering place for another flow, namely garbage. In 1999, Wisconsin set a new record by importing over 1.4 million tons of garbage. While most of the imported garbage was from Illinois, garbage imports from Minnesota increased three fold to 267,881 tons.

What’s the reason for this phenomenon? People know a good deal when they see it! Along with a national reputation for Holstein cows, cheese curds and brandy consumption, Wisconsin has become the bargain basement for landfill tipping fees in the upper midwest too! Can Nirvana be far away? Valkyries shaped liked garbage trucks… somehow I don’t think that’s what the Viking shamons envisioned….

Of course there are some problems. We’ll need more mega-landfills and/or have to expand our current landfills. And recycling and composting may become questionable propositions, since it is cheaper to just throw many commodities into a Wisconsin landfill than to recycle or compost them.

But, hey, we get bragging rights of being one of the top six importers of garbage in the country! This is a tremendous growth industry with lots of good paying jobs being brought into the state.

Of course there is the long term liability question. While private landfills will indemnify their customers against future remediation requirements, will these companies be solvent in 20, 30 or 50 years?

But hey, the grand and great grand kids and lawyers can figure that one out and besides, 1.4 million tons of imported garbage provides $ 420,000 for Wisconsin’s recycling program… why that’s a whole … 1.7% of the State’s Recycling Grant program!. Because, remember Wisconsin! This landfill’s for you!
STORY ARCHIVES
Been there,…Done that Delays, delays
Demolition Man Demolition Man, demolished
Dump tours Dumps O’er Wisconsin
Haunting Hazardous Waste Hey Buddy, Got a Landfill?
Historical Composting How’d you like your asbestos?
If at first, second If you have a hard time reading this, perhaps you should recycle your glasses!
It’s spring time, do you feel… hazardous? Just sign on the dotted line……
Mercury My…Oh My Mommas don’t let your babies grow up to be junk men
Oneida County Compost, the compost with guts! And, probably for sale this spring! Paper Recycling Exceeds 50%!
Perennial Plastics Problems School’s in
So, are we recycling, or not?! Spinning Recycling Percentages
The Empire Strikes Garbage! The Good Stuff
Tis’ a sad, sad day…..Bob was right?!!! We’re not only still recycling, but it’s easier?!
004 Composting Season Opens! A composter’s guide to better leaf areas in the City of Rhinelander
Earth Day, thinking globally acting localy Governor’s Task Force on Waste Materials Recovery and Disposal: Part I
Governor’s Task Force on Waste Materials Recovery and Disposal: Part II Electronics, We’ll all be in the same boat, does anybody know the words to Kumbaya? If ya’ can’t stand the heat, get out of the compost pile!
Oneida County Solid Waste Department Takes Drugs! Responsible Manufacturers… the rest is up to us!
The Recycling Inspector Cometh… Thinking Globally, Acting Locally
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PO Box 400
Rhinelander, WI 54501
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