Recycling Updates: MRF Annual Self-Certification The annual self-certification, required for materials recovery facilities (MRFs) accepting Wisconsin residential recyclables, will be available online mid-February and will be due March 30, 2025.  RU Annual Report The responsible unit (RU) 2024 annual report will be available online mid-March and will be due April 30, 2025. The DNR recommends taking the following actions to prepare for the report(s): Notify the DNR of contact updates. Make sure the person submitting the report can access the online reporting system.  RUs: Request a tonnage report from your hauler or MRF if you have not already received one. Access the online reporting system through the DNR's website at Annual Reports for Responsible Units and Materials Recovery Facilities. Please note, Ariana Mankerian, long-time Recycling & Solid Waste Reporting Specialist, retired in December. Please direct any reporting questions to [email protected].    National Battery Day is celebrated each year on Feb.18. Take this opportunity to share resources on proper battery management and disposal.  Improperly disposed of batteries, particularly lithium-ion batteries, have caused for fires in collection trucks, waste and recycling facilities. Fires put workers and firefighters at risk and have caused millions of dollars of damage in Wisconsin. Beyond Wisconsin, Fire Rover estimates $1.25 billion in expenses for the waste and recycling industry due to improperly discarded batteries last year alone!  You can help prevent fires like these by following these steps: Never put batteries or electronics in your recycling bin or cart. Take rechargeable batteries to a recycling drop-off site, like a hardware store or local recycling center. E-cycle your electronic devices through E-Cycle Wisconsin. Many sites accept electronics like laptops and cell phones for free. To learn more and find recycling locations, visit the Wisconsin DNR’s electronics and battery recycling webpage.   Staff from the Tri-County Recycling Program (Brown, Outagamie and Winnebago counties) recently published a digital book on recycling right. While the guidelines are meant to advise residents of their counties, the tips on what should not go in the recycling bin are common across the state. The ABC's of Recycling Right teaches how to recycle using each letter of the alphabet. While written at a third-grade reading level, the book contains helpful information for all ages.     Reports On Recycling Infrastructure And Survey On State Data Collection The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced two new reports to Congress: An assessment of the nation’s current recycling infrastructure stock and gaps and another report containing the results of EPA’s recent survey of states on residential recycling.  In 2021, Congress directed the EPA to collect data on residential recycling and estimate the financial investments needed to modernize the U.S. recycling system. In its report, “An Assessment of the U.S. Recycling System: Financial Estimates to Modernize Material Recovery Infrastructure,” the EPA estimates that an investment of $36.5 to $43.4 billion is needed to improve curbside collection, drop-off and processing infrastructure across the United States by 2030. This estimate includes material recovery facilities, packaging material-specific recycling facilities, composting, anaerobic digestion and more.  The EPA’s second report to Congress, “Recycling Needs Survey and Assessment,” presents the results of a survey that found approximately 50% of states and territories collect data on the number of community curbside recycling programs. The survey also found that approximately 50% of states and territories measure an overall recycling rate, with an average recycling rate of about 30%. Report On Environmental Value Of Applying Compost The EPA also released a new report titled "The Environmental Value of Applying Compost: Improving Soil Health for Storm water Management, Contaminated Site Remediation, Ecosystem Restoration, Landscaping and Agriculture." The report summarizes the benefits of compost use and examines potential benefits of increasing the use of compost at scales that better align with the volume of organic materials (e.g. food waste) available for composting. Read the full report and visit the new webpage on the benefits of using compost for additional resources. Final Updates To Recommendations To Help Buyers Find Sustainable Products The EPA recently published updates to the agency’s Recommendations of Specifications, Standards and Ecolabels for Federal Purchasing, which help federal government purchasers and other buyers select products that are more sustainable and contain safer chemical ingredients. This is the first time in nearly 10 years that the EPA has comprehensively evaluated private-sector standards and ecolabels, expanding its recommendations at the same time. With more than 460 ecolabels and standards in the marketplace, these new recommendations help buyers cut through the clutter to identify thousands of products and services that conserve resources, include more recycled content, reduce PFAS exposure and contamination, as well as lower the overall consumption of single-use plastics. With this update, the EPA is expanding recommendations by adding 14 standards and ecolabels in new categories of healthcare, laboratories and clothing and uniforms while also expanding the options for buyers of food service ware. Reminder: Deadline for Solid Waste Infrastructure For Recycling (SWIFR) Grants For Tribes Approaching The SWIFR Grants for Tribes and Intertribal Consortia will provide approximately $20 million in awards ranging from $100,000 to $1.5 million each. Eligible entities are federally recognized tribes, including intertribal consortia. The deadline to apply is March 14, 2025.   The Wisconsin Integrated Resource Management Conference (WIRMC) celebrates 25 years of providing educational and networking opportunities this month. This statewide waste and recycling conference is hosted by the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin (AROW), the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) Badger Chapter and the Wisconsin Counties Solid Waste Management Association (WCSWMA). This year's conference will take place Feb. 26-28 at the Chula Vista Resort in Wisconsin Dells. DNR staff will be on-hand with a booth in the sold-out exhibit hall and will be presenting sessions on "Taking on the Lithium Battery Challenge" and "Non-landfill Solid Waste Rules Feedback." We hope to see you there!