Spring Clean Sweep set for April 17

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Pierce County will provide free disposal for county households and farmers of unwanted medications during the county Clean Sweep scheduled for Saturday, April 17.

The unwanted medications will be collected at the same event already accepting pesticides, fertilizers, solvents, fuels, cleaning agents, lead, oil- and latex-based paints, and other chemicals from households and farmers in the county. Businesses and institutions in the county are also welcome to participate in the event. Businesses and institutions must pre-register and pay a fee for the service.

The Spring Clean Sweep and Pharmaceutical Events will be from 8 a.m. to noon April 17 at the Pierce County MRF/Recycling Center on Hwy. 65 north of Ellsworth.

County households, farmers and business people are encouraged to look through their barns, sheds, garages, basements, storage cabinets, and under the kitchen and bathroom sinks for any and all unwanted chemicals, and paints. Look in medicine cabinets, too, for any and all old/unused/unwanted medications.

This will be the third time the county will collect unwanted medications. However, the county has been accepting mercury thermometers for the past several years.

Anyone who has an unknown material in a quantity of more than five gallons should contact the Pierce County Solid Waste Office in advance for assistance in identifying it and determining whether it is hazardous. Businesses and institutions must contact the county solid waste office in advance to arrange for participation in the event.

All materials with package or container labels displaying a consumer alert (words like “Warning,” “Caution,” “Danger,” “Corrosive,” “Toxic,” “Flammable,” “Hazardous,” “Poison”) can be taken to the Clean Sweep, along with all lead, oil and latex paint, including aerosol paints.

All materials, including the unwanted medications, should be kept in their original containers so they can be identified and disposed of properly through Clean Sweep. Any latex paint hardened-in-the-can can be placed in the regular garbage.

For more information, contact the Pierce County Solid Waste Office at (715) 273-3092.

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