ELLSWORTH – Pierce County will provide free hazardous waste disposal for Pierce County households and farmers of unwanted medications and hazardous wastes during the county Clean Sweep Event scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 20th, 2025 at the Pierce County Solid Waste Dept./Recycling Center (707 N. Maple St./Highway 65, Ellsworth.) A charge may be applied for large loads of household hazardous waste/paints.

Pierce County residents are encouraged to bring in items like pesticides, fertilizers, solvents, fuels, cleaning agents, lead/oil and latex based paints, aerosol cans, herbicides 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 must pre-register by calling by Sept. 18 and may pay a fee for the service if bringing large loads.

A free pharmaceutical collection event will be held in conjunction with the Clean Sweep. Look in your medicine cabinets for old, unused or unwanted medications. Empty your medications into a bag for collection at the event. Then, black out personal information on original containers and place that empty original container in your trash. We will not accept needles or other medical sharps.

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 (water based) paint hardened-in-the-can, you can discard in your regular garbage.

Non-hazardous materials brought in on Clean Sweep days like furniture, mattresses, tires and items like appliances, electronics and fluorescent bulbs, will be charged the regular fee. We accept these items every day on a regular basis from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday (bring in by 2 p.m. if you need help unloading).

Household garbage, trash or food is never accepted at the recycling center. Recycled materials like plastic bottles, cans, cardboard, paper, waste oil, cooking oil, antifreeze, and scrap metals can be brought in anytime at no charge.

Clean Sweep hazardous waste disposals happen twice a year, once in Spring (April) and once in the Fall (Sept.).

For more information, contact the Pierce County Solid Waste Office at 715-273-3092. Thank you for helping keep our community clean and safe.

Submitted by Pierce County Solid Waste Department