Town ^of Brookfield

Fire at Waukesha County Recycling Facility Linked to Propane Tank
Waukesha (WI) – Friday, July 15, 2011 – A fast response yesterday by the fire department and quick thinking by recycling facility staff minimized the damage from a small explosion which was apparently caused by the compaction of a 1-lb. propane cylinder in the baler at the County’s Materials Recycling Facility (MRF).  The resulting fire at the MRF, located at 220 S. Prairie Avenue in Waukesha, was quickly controlled by the fire department and no damage was done to the baler.   Fortunately, proper safety protocol and training also kept anyone from being injured.

Jim Lewis, plant manager for ReCommunity, the operator of the facility, said “Our sorters are constantly watching the materials on the sorting line to capture these dangerous items; however, one slipped through.  On Thursday we had already pulled three of the small propane cylinders from the processing line.  We encourage people in the community to recycle as much as possible, but we also encourage a safe working environment for our employees so they can go home to their families every night unharmed.  We ask residents to be careful not to place materials like propane cylinders and other dangerous items into the recycling".

During the baling process at the recycling facility, materials are compressed under hundreds of pounds of pressure in order to form a large bale for shipping.  Even when propane tanks are empty, they remain pressurized and can explode when compacted.

 “We were lucky that no one was injured and that the fire did not spread to paper bales,” stated Karen Fiedler, Waukesha County Solid Waste Supervisor.  “We are thankful that the MRF staff and city fire department helped avert a very dangerous and costly situation.”

For more details on what can be recycled, visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/recycling or call (262) 896-8300. For information on proper disposal of propane cylinders contact the retail store where the item was purchased or visit the Wisconsin Propane Gas Association website at www.wipga.org

Additionally, here is a listing of places that take tanks: http://www.waukeshacounty.gov/defaultwc.aspx?id=39853

We are happy to announce that the County recycling program will begin accepting paper beverage cartons for recycling this fall. This will help increase our recycling tonnage and reduce the amount of materials going to landfills, while providing fiber for new paper products.

We will be part of a national push on the part of carton manufacturers to implement municipal recycling programs in partnership with paper mills and MRF operators. Having been assured there are adequate long-term markets for the materials, FCR, operator of the County Materials Recycling Facility, and the County have agreed to add cartons to the recycling stream. FCR will be making some equipment modifications at the MRF to sort the cartons, which should be completed by the end of September. Until then, they will sort the cartons from the commingled sort line into barrels for storage. The addition of this new material will not add to the processing costs and will result in additional revenue.

These milk, juice, soup, and wine cartons, must be empty and placed in the blue recycling bins along with bottles and cans. Lids should be removed and thrown away. To help residents associate them with beverage and food containers i.e. bottles and cans, we will refer to these materials as cartons. [Although the major recyclable component of these cartons is paper, they are collected with bottles and cans, then sorted at the facility before baling and transporting to paper mills.]

You can read more about the Carton Council, a consortium of manufacturers, and see which communities already have carton recycling programs in place at www.recyclecartons.com.

Veoila Environmental Services wants all county residents to know that they are no longer able to provide dumping services to residential or commercial customers at their Hartland dump site effective 7/1/2010.

Waukesha County has a fantastic e-newsletter that has updates on recycling sites, hazardous waste collection, and miscellaneous news on the Materials Recycling Facility. Check it out for all your recycling information.

Two Separations Required

Bottles and cans - placed loose in the blue recycling bins - no plastic bags

Paper - all paper and cardboard must be ties with string or bagged in paper bags.

Residents needing a new blue bin can pick one up at town hall. For more information about what to recycle, details on preparation of materials, or to schedule a group tour of the recycling facility, please visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/recycling or call 262-896-8300.

When a holiday precedes garbage pickup in a week, pickup will be pushed back one day from your normal schedule.  Please make sure to put your garbage out on the correct day.

Yard Waste Specifications:

• Grass, leaves and garden debris shall be bagged in paper biodegradable yard waste bags, disposable cardboard boxes 3’ x 3 ’x 3’ (Appliance boxes ARE NOT acceptable), or unlined 32-gallon garbage cans with handles. You may also use plastic bags by purchasing and placing a sticker on each bag. Stickers in lots of twenty-five for $0.65 per sticker can be purchased at the Town Clerk’s Office or by sending a payment of $16.25 along with a self-addressed stamped long 4 1/8” x 9 1/2” envelope to the Town Hall.

• Brush (branches less than 6 inches in diameter) must be cut to 4 foot lengths and bundled securely, not to exceed 1 1/2 feet in diameter.

• No bag, bundle. or can shall weigh more than 60 pounds.

• Yard waste much be at the curb the night before scheduled pick up.

Saturday Yard Waste collection dates

Remember, yard waste must be at the curb the night before the scheduled pick up.

Town Hall Drop Off Dates

Burning permits for residential burning are not required as long as the following conditions are met:

1. There is not burning of: garbage, material producing a noxious odor, material creating a health hazard, flammable liquids, open areas of standing grass, woods or brush, or combustibles in an amount exceeding two feet in height and five feet in diameter

2. Burning is only allowed during daylight hours

3. No burning when winds exceed 10 miles per hour

4. Burning in roadways or ditches is prohibited

5. Burning must occur at least 25 feet from the front lot line, 15 feet from the side lot line and 10 feet from the rear lot line

6. Adequate protection, such as a garden hose or fire extinguisher, must be readily available

7. When burning in a container, it must have a wire mesh cover with an opening of 1/2 inch or less and be more than 25 feet from any building

County residents can recycle old computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, scanners, and peripherals at four locations in the county.

City of Waukesha Recycling Drop Off Site
900 Sentry Dr., Waukesha
Hours: Saturday - 8 am - 4 pm
Wednesday - 11 am - 7 pm (April - Thanksgiving)

City of Brookfield Highway Department
19450 Riverview Dr., Brookfield
Hours: Saturday 8 am - 5 pm
Tuesday and Thursday - 1 pm - 7 pm (May - November)

New Berlin Recycle Center
3711 S. Casper Dr., New Berlin
Hours: Saturday - 8 am - 4 pm
Tuesday and Thursday - 10 am - 7 pm (April 3 - December 10)

Ethan Allen School (only five pieces at a time)
W323 South Boy School Rd., Wales
Hours: Monday - Sunday 8 am - 8pm

Arrangements must be made before pick up day for any appliance.  In addition, pick up of appliances may not coincide with normal trash pick up day.  To schedule pick up of appliances, call Veolia Environmental at 262-367-6040 and proceed to Residential Home Service Department.

They do charge a fee for appliances that contain freon.  Contact them for more information and fees at 262-367-6040.

Additionally, Veolia asks that on collection day, all toys and other valuables be kept at least 10 feet away from the refuse bags or cans.

County residents can recycle old computers, monitors, printers, keyboards, scanners, and peripherals at four locations in the county.

Franklin
10518 S. 124th St.
Hours: Every Tuesday and Thursday from 11 am - 6 pm
Saturdays, 8 am - 2 pm

City of Waukesha Recycling Drop Off Site
900 Sentry Dr., Waukesha
Hours: 2nd Saturday (except holidays) from 8 am - 4 pm, December - March
2nd and 4th Saturdays from 8 am - 4 pm, April - November
3rd Wednesday each month, April - November from 11 am - 7 pm

Menomonee Falls Site
Veolia Environmental Services
W124 N9451 Boundary Rd.
262-255-6655
Hours: Every Monday and Wednesday, 11 am - 6 pm
Saturdays, 8 am - 2 pm

Muskego
Jensen Environmental Management
W144 S6347 College Ct.
Hours: Saturdays, 8 am - 12 pm (except holiday weekends)

For more information including a list of acceptable Household Hazardous Waste materials, call the Waukesha County Household Hazardous Waste Information Line at 262-896-8016 or visit their website at www.waukeshacounty.gov/recycling. Proof of residency is required at all sites.