Light bulbs
May be recycled at the following (some may charge a small fee):

  • Any Dunn County collection station
  • Augusta True Value
  • Best Buy, Eau Claire
  • Eau Claire Ace Hardware
  • Parr’s Hardware
  • Pinehurst Hardware Hank
  • Sam’s Club
  • Thompson’s True Value
  • Gordy’s True Value

Batteries
Any Wisconsin retailer that sells car batteries is legally obligated to recycle them at no cost. The manufacturing of simple alkaline batteries – the ones found in toys and flashlights – now makes them safe for landfills, so throw them away. Other can go here:

  • Batteries Plus, Eau Claire
  • Office Depot, Eau Claire
  • Radio Shack (London Square Mall, Oakwood Mall, Shopko Plaza)
  • Sears (Oakwood Mall)
  • Any Dunn County collection station

Computers

  • Bridge Creek Transfer Station
  • Comprehensive Recycling (call to make delivery arrangements first, 839-7899)
  • First Choice Computer Recycling (FREE! Recycles both household and K-12 computers)
  • One Source Imaging (recycles toner cartridges)
  • RAM Technologies
  • Salvation Army (computer must be less than 5 years old and functional)
  • Cartridge World (refills and recycles toner cartridges)
  • Any Dunn County transfer site (for a fee)

Appliances
Air conditioners, washers/dryers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers/humidifiers, freezers, furnace boilers, microwaves, stoves/ovens, refrigerators, and water heaters. Throughout the year, you may bring these to the following locations, but check in advance for disposal fees:

  • First Choice Recycling (may pick up appliances for additional fee)
  • Bridge Creek Transfer Station
  • Comprehensive Recycling (non-freon items)
  • Max Phillips Scrap Yard
  • Toy’s Salvage
  • U-Can Recycling

Cell phones
Many national chains accept cell phones including:

  • Alltel, AT&T, Best Buy, FedEx, Kinkos, Office Depot, Office Max, Radio Shack, Sam’s Club, Sprint, Target, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon, and Wal-Mart.
  • Liberty Tax Service (2945 S Prairie View Rd Suite 1, Chippewa Falls) also accepts cell phones for soldiers
  • WirelessFoundation.org: Provides phones with free airtime to victims of domestic violence
  • CollectiveGood.com: Refurbishes phones for use in developing countries.
  • CharitableRecycling.com: Give phones to senior citizens, battered women, and patients awaiting organ transplants.

Paint
Once old paint has dried, it can be disposed of at any of the Dunn County Transfer Stations. Oil-based paints, varnish, or paint thinners are considered hazardous waste and need to be disposed of at hazardous waste collections.

   • Local high school and community theaters may take extra paint on an as-needed basis. Contact the individual organization for more information.
  • For immediate disposal of your materials for a fee: WRR Environmental Services, 5200 State Road 93, Eau Claire – for Eau Claire residents only

Propane Tanks

  • River County Co-Op (Cenex Gas Station; 723-2828) in Chippewa Falls, 1080 W. River St., accepts 20-pound tanks at no charge.
  • Thaler Oil Company (310 S. Main St., Chippewa Falls 723-2822) accept 5-, 10-, 20-, 30-, and 40-pound tanks, and may even give you some money for them.
  • Max Phillips & Sons and Toy’s Salvage will accept empty 20-pound propane tanks if the valves are removed (requires a special tool)
  • 1 lb. canisters can be recycled at scrap yards, but they MUST be properly vented first. The Coleman Company sells a venting “green key” for their canisters online.

Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Most smoke detectors contain small amounts of radioactive materials that can be harmful if broken in a landfill. The companies First Alert (1-800-323-9005) and American Sensors (1-800-387-4219) will dispose of them for a small fee.

  • Carbon monoxide detectors are not hazardous, but they do contain recyclable materials. First Choice Computer Recycling (1125 Starr Ave, Eau Claire, 833-2005) accepts them for a nominal fee.

Medications
Unused, unwanted, or expired medications in any form can be recycled here:

  • Altoona Police Dept (1904 Spooner Ave)
  • Augusta Police Dept (145 W. Lincoln St)
  • Fall Creek Police Department (122 E. Lincoln Ave)
  • Eau Claire County Sheriff’s Department (721 Oxford Ave, Room 1428)
  • Dunn County Sheriff’s Dept (615 Stokke Parkway, Menomonie)