Summertime Sweep: Eau Claire County is ready to take your hazardous trash

Julia van Allen, photos by Marisa Wojcik |

Ever find yourself staring at those half-empty cans of oil-based paint and antifreeze in your garage that you just don’t need? Want to get rid of them in a safe way? The Eau Claire County Recycling program has the solution. On July 14 from 8am to noon, Eau Claire County residents can drop off their hazardous materials at WRR Environmental Services. Some items will be accepted for free, while there will be a small charge for others. At the same time, First Choice Computer Recycling (525 Park Ridge Court, Eau  Claire) will be open to collect broken or unwanted electronics. The purpose of this event is to provide an opportunity for Eau Claire residents to dispose of hazardous household products in a responsible and legal way – after all, you can’t just throw this stuff away with your regular trash! The Eau Claire County Recycling Program breaks down household hazardous products into four categories: toxic, ignitable or flammable, corrosive, and reactive. Toxic materials are those that can cause illness or death. Ignitable or flammable materials can ignite below 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Corrosive materials tend to be strong acids and bases that can eat through steel and other materials. Reactive materials are chemicals that are violently unstable at room temperature, react violently with water, or give off toxic vapors when mixed with air at room temperature. These materials pose a threat to human health, animal health, and the environment. Avoid these issues by bringing these materials down on July 14. For more information, visit the Eau Claire County website or call (715) 839-2756. 

Eau Claire County Clean Sweep • July 14 • 8am–noon • WRR Environmental Services, 5200 Ryder Road, Eau Claire • Additional rules and fee information available online • visit www.co.eau-claire.wi.us and enter “Clean Sweep” into the search bar • (715) 839-2756