ELLSWORTH – Pierce County and Pepin County will hold the annual Fall Clean Sweep & Pharmaceutical Event 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 18 at the Pierce County Solid Waste Department/ Recycling Center (707 N. Maple St., Ellsworth).

Pierce County will provide free disposal for county households and farmers of unwanted medications during the event as well. However, a charge may be applied for large loads of household hazardous waste/paints).

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 your medicine cabinets too, for any and all old/unused/unwanted medications.

The unwanted medications will be collected at the same event that accepts pesticides, fertilizers, solvents, fuels, cleaning agents, lead, oil and latex based paints, and other chemicals from households and farmers in the county. This is the 13th year (24th event) for collecting unwanted medications. Empty them into a bag for collection and be sure to black out personal information on the original container.

Businesses and institutions in the county are also welcome to participate in the event. Businesses and institutions must have pre-registered by Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 and paid a fee for the service.

Anyone who has an unknown material in a quantity of more than 5 gallons should contact the Pierce County Solid Waste/Recycling Office in advance for assistance in identifying it and determining whether it is hazardous.

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. Any latex paint hardened- in-the-can, discard in the regular garbage.

For more information, contact the Pierce County Solid Waste Office at 715-273-3092 or Pepin County Solid Waste Office at 715-672-5709.

Submitted by Pierce County Solid Waste Department