HomeMy WebLinkAboutOshkosh Sustainability Plan - Waste Management DRAFT - 25 July 2025Oshkosh Sustainability Plan 2025
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Chapter: Waste Management
Introductfon
Communitfes are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental consequences of urban
development, modern lifestyles, and industrial actfvity. Effectfve waste management has never been
more critfcal. This chapter addresses strategies and innovatfve practfces to employ in the City of Oshkosh
to address the impacts of waste disposal. By examining waste reductfon techniques, the proper handling
of hazardous materials, and the benefits of recycling and compostfng, we can mitfgate the environmental
impact of waste.
Oshkosh operates a Sanitatfon Division that coordinates the collectfon and disposal of household and
commercial waste to landfills and recycling facilitfes outside of the community. There are many things
that are improperly wasted or difficult to dispose of, creatfng consequences for the cost and
sustainability of managing landfills and waste management systems. Striving towards more sustainable
waste disposal and waste reductfon efforts can save money and improve the efficiency of local
productfon and consumptfon practfces. A sustainable perspectfve on waste is one that treats every
output as a potentfal input, retfring waste only when it has no economically viable future and reducing
the need to consume raw materials to meet the community’s needs.
Past Accomplishments
The City of Oshkosh has already made progress towards sustainability with the following
accomplishments:
• Providing guides to residents and businesses on how to properly dispose of waste, recyclable
materials, hazardous waste, etc.
• Reducing paper usage in local government with electronic systems
o Scanning
o “Evolve” digital permitting software to administer permits, projects, and cases
o “Munis” City operatfons, financials
o “Laserfiche” document management;
o The IT Department reducing paper use from 8 lbs./year to 2 lbs./year
• Enhanced the recycling program with new roll-off containers and automated side-load trucks
• Offers disposal of yard waste, light bulbs, toner cartridges, batteries, and other materials that are
difficult to dispose of
• Sustainable disposal of biosolids from wastewater via land applicatfon
Background
Landfill capacity. Modern lifestyles make the impacts of waste disposal nearly invisible without
visitfng a landfill. It can be easy to treat landfills as an infinite resource, but they are extremely costly to
maintain and establish once existfng landfills are full. Waste decomposing in landfills is a significant
contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, and many of those emissions can be avoided through more
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sustainable waste management practfces. Gas emissions can be combusted for energy productfon, as is
conducted in most local landfills, but stfll emits greenhouse gases. Sustainable waste management
involves working to reuse and recycle waste in any economically feasible way before retfring waste at the
end of its life cycle. However, seeking new uses for waste can be extremely difficult when sources of new
materials are cheap and readily available. Similarly, when landfills have ample capacity, it can be difficult
to prioritfze waste reductfon because the cost of retfring a landfill seems far in the future.
In 2012, the Sunnyview Landfill used by Winnebago, Brown, and Outagamie Countfes reached capacity
and ended solid waste disposal operatfons. Today, Winnebago County uses the Sunnyview Landfill as a
drop off locatfon, and waste is transferred to the Outagamie County and Brown County Landfills. This
adds to the environmental impacts of waste disposal in Oshkosh, because it has to be transported a
further distance. Closed landfills have ongoing costs related to environmental monitoring, reportfng, and
maintenance, and these costs are in additfon to the cost of finding and maintaining new landfills. The
Winnebago County Solid Waste Department set out to begin long term planning in 2023 to identffy a
future landfill site. Winnebago County also owns the Snell Road Landfill, which is also closed.1,2
To save customers money and reduce the environmental impacts of ongoing waste disposal, sustainable
alternatfves to waste disposal may be explored so that future landfills are not overburdened and can
contfnue to be offered at reasonable prices for as long as possible.
Recycling. To reduce the burden on landfills and create resources out of what would otherwise be
waste, Oshkosh takes its duty to facilitate recycling seriously. Recycling in Oshkosh is a shared
responsibility by multfple units of government. The City handles collectfon of household recyclables, and
that involves providing recycling carts and collectfng recyclables at the curbside every other week.
Allowed materials currently include plastfc, metals, paper, and glass, with numerous exclusions.
Businesses in Oshkosh work with waste haulers they contract to recycle, and those processes vary.
Oshkosh Municipal Code Sectfon 23-3, “Recycling Required,” states that all occupants of buildings, both
residentfal and non-residentfal, shall separate for recycling…” and lists materials that may not be placed
in waste carts. Winnebago County owns and operates the waste and recycling transfer statfon, and that
involves processing recyclables so they can be moved to the next facility. The County is part of the Tri-
County Regional Program, and so they collaborate with Brown and Outagamie Countfes. The Tri-County’s
facility is one of the largest publicly owned and operated single-stream recycling facilitfes in the US.
Artfficial intelligence (AI)-powered collectfon technologies are something to watch going forward. AI
classificatfon technologies that fuel efficiencies in recycling include bin detectfon, electrified arms that
move faster than humans and better manage noise, and contaminatfon detectfon. Non-generatfve AI
technologies are a less energy- and resource-intensive form of automatfon compared to generatfve AI
and pose significant opportunitfes for improving waste management effectfveness.
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Composting. Compostfng is a natural process that transforms organic waste, like food scraps and yard
trimmings, into nutrient-rich soil. It is an age-old practfce that has gained renewed importance in
modern waste management as citfes and communitfes look for sustainable ways to reduce landfill use
and greenhouse gas emissions. By
returning organic matter to the soil,
compostfng not only diverts waste
but also enhances soil health, turns
waste into a resource, and supports
local agriculture.
Municipal compostfng programs
have emerged as a key strategy in
this effort; offering curbside pickup,
drop-off sites, and educatfonal
outreach to encourage
partfcipatfon. Oshkosh already
offers yard waste compostfng with
a permit, limited to residentfal
households. This permit allows
users to utflize the designated yard
waste drop off site to dispose of
their yard waste material. This site
also offers self-service mulch
pickup. Another optfon available to
residents in Oshkosh is curbside
pickup, which consists of curbside brush and loose leaf collectfon. The Oshkosh Sanitatfon Division
provides a guide for how to partfcipate in this program.3
Many citfes partner with third-party vendors to manage the logistfcs of collectfon and processing, while
others explore alternatfves like community compostfng hubs or backyard compostfng incentfves. Despite
their benefits, these programs often face challenges such as contaminatfon from non-compostable
materials, high infrastructure costs, and inconsistent public engagement. Addressing these issues
requires thoughtiul planning, strong community involvement, and supportfve policies to ensure long-
term success.
Elements that can contribute to the success of a small-to-mid-size community compostfng program can
include:
• Startfng a voluntary opt-in model to gauge interest and build community support lessens the
risks of contaminatfon and improves program efficiency
• Offering incentfves to share a compostfng bin between homes or opt out of other waste
management services
• Offering central compostfng locatfons for those who may only compost infrequently. These
locatfons are often unstaffed
• Pilotfng a program seasonally or startfng with a drop-off only program before scaling to curbside
collectfon
Steven’s Point, WI supports compostfng through both home-based
efforts and a partnership with a local service called Bucket Ruckus
Compost – a private, third-party vendor. Bucket Ruckus offers a
curbside compostfng program for both residentfal and commercial
customers in the Stevens Point and Plover areas. Residents receive
a bucket to collect food scraps, which are picked up weekly and
diverted from landfills. Commercial clients can use multfple 5-
gallon buckets or larger 32-gallon bins. The service includes a
customer portal where users can track how much waste they've
diverted, manage pickups, and review billing.
This hybrid approach combining municipal educatfon and support
with a third-party collectfon service makes Stevens Point a notable
example of how smaller communitfes can implement effectfve
compostfng programs without needing to build their own large-
scale infrastructure.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has a database
on other compostfng programs in the state.4
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Hazardous Waste. Hazardous waste disposal is a significant challenge in citfes. Items like paints,
solvents, batteries, pestfcides, and electronic waste contain toxic substances that can harm human
health and the environment if not handled properly. Improper disposal such as pouring chemicals down
the drain, tossing batteries in the trash, or fly dumping (unauthorized disposal of waste on public or
private property) can lead to soil and water contaminatfon, air pollutfon, and long-term ecological
damage. Hazardous waste disposal involves a combinatfon of public educatfon, accessible collectfon
infrastructure, and regulatory enforcement.
Winnebago County Solid Waste maintains a seasonal drop-off site where residents can safely dispose of
such materials. Municipalitfes often host regular household hazardous waste collectfon events to provide
convenient access for people who may struggle to
access remote disposal sites. Examples of
household hazardous waste materials that are
commonly accepted at collectfon events include,
but are not limited to:
• TVs, computers, monitors, printers, cell
phones, etc. that commonly contain
mercury and lead. Note that these are also
covered under Wisconsin’s E-Cycle program
• Batteries that require special handling due
to fire risk and toxic chemicals
• Liquids and toxic chemicals - paints,
solvents, pestfcides, pool chemicals, and
cleaners
• Compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) and fluorescent light bulbs and string lights
• Pressurized containers - propane, fire extfnguishers, and some cosmetfcs
• Automotfve products - motor oil and antffreeze
• Plastfc film, plastfc bags, bubble wrap, and shrink wrap
Certain hazardous waste materials are classified by the DNR as universal waste, including:
• Used lamps (certain light bulbs)
• Hazardous waste batteries containing lithium, nickel-cadmium, silver oxide, and lead-acid
• Used mercury-containing equipment
• Recalled or expired pestfcides
• Used aerosol cans
These universal wastes are allowed to be stored for longer periods of tfme to encourage proper handling
and recycling as compared to other hazardous waste materials that must be disposed of more promptly.
It is helpful to be aware of this distfnctfon when handling universal waste as compared to other
hazardous waste materials.4
Litter. Litter can be unsightly, attract pests, and degrade the land and water environments. Litter in
commercial areas also decreases customer satfsfactfon and sales, reduces property values, reduces the
functfonality of public spaces, and increases maintenance costs. There are no waste receptacles in parks,
E-Cycle Wisconsin is a statewide electronics
recycling program administered by the Wisconsin
Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Its main
purpose is to provide a convenient,
environmentally responsible way to recycle certain
electronics, while ensuring manufacturers help
fund the process. The E-Cycle Wisconsin program is
supported by Wisconsin's electronics recycling law,
which bans electronics such as TVs, computers, and
cell phones from Wisconsin landfills and
incinerators.5
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and users are required to remove any waste they bring in. There are various waste and recycling
receptacles downtown with varying designs and styles added over tfme.
For additfonal informatfon on the resources outlined in this chapter, check out:
1 Winnebago County Solid Waste Budget Report 2023:
https://www.co.winnebago.wi.us/sites/default/files/uploaded-files/2023-Solid Waste-.pdf
2 Winnebago County Solid Waste Disposal: https://www.winnebagocountysolidwaste.com/solid-waste
3 Brush and Leaf Collectfon: https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/Sanitatfon/Documents/BrushLeafCollectfonGuidelines.pdf
4 Wisconsin DNR Guidance on universal waste management: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Waste/Universal.html
5 E-Cycle Wisconsin program informatfon | Wisconsin DNR: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Ecycle/Wisconsin.html
Goal(s):
Waste reduction/recycling/composting: Divert waste from landfills to use finite resources most
efficiently through recycling and compostfng, retfring “waste” only when there is no cost-effectfve
modern-day use for it to build towards a more circular local economy.
Hazardous waste disposal: Dispose of or recycle hazardous waste properly to minimize the risks of
human exposure and mitigate groundwater contamination.
Recommendatfons
1. Municipal facilities - recycling. Contfnue to promote the best recycling practfces in municipal
facilitfes.
o Lead Responsibility: General Services Division - Facilitfes
o Time Frame: Ongoing
o Implementation Details:
▪ Ensure guidance materials from the Sanitatfon Division reflectfng what is
recyclable are posted at all recycling statfons in City facilitfes.
▪ Coordinate annually with the Sanitatfon Division to identffy the most common
contaminants in recycling containers and promote this informatfon to staff
during sustainability training or other related training processes.
▪ Ensure that recycling guidance materials are freely available at informatfon
kiosks.
2. Municipal facilities – waste reduction. Contfnue to promote best practfces in municipal waste
productfon for single-use disposable plastfc and paper waste.
o Lead Responsibility: Administratfve Services Department
o Time Frame: Ongoing
o Implementation Details:
▪ Contfnue to install and maintain hydratfon statfons in City facilitfes.
▪ Contfnue to encourage use of electronic documents and email rather than
generatfng paper copies, expanding use of Evolve, Munis, and Laserfiche
software for forms, permits, payments, and mailing/emailing.
▪ Balance waste reductfon goals with sanitatfon needs, such as offering recycled
paper towels in restrooms as an alternatfve to less sanitary blow dryers and
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using disposable cleaning supplies to clean up biohazards as an alternatfve to
reusing supplies for biohazards.
▪ Undertake a waste audit/assessment to update the recommendatfons herein.
The US EPA provides guidance.5
▪ Contfnue to monitor innovatfons in autonomous municipal fleet vehicles, fleet
decarbonizatfon, and AI-powered enhancements in waste collectfon equipment.
3. Community recycling. Expand recycling best practfces as part of the Automated Collectfon
Program.
o Lead Responsibility: Sanitatfon Division
o Time Frame: Ongoing
o Implementation Details:
▪ Conduct public outreach about what can be recycled and distribute educatfonal
materials with new blue bins.
▪ Distribute materials about the most common contaminants in recycling
containers on an annual or semi-annual basis, celebratfng progress about
contaminatfon rates in educatfonal materials.
▪ Contfnue to offer curbside pickup for single-stream recycling services to make
recycling convenient and accessible for all.
▪ Coordinate with the Parks Division, auto shops, and/or electronic retailers to
host special collectfon events for hard-to-recycle items that should be diverted
from landfills; such as batteries, lightbulbs/string lights, household hazardous
waste, pressurized tanks, plastfc film/bags, and other items listed in the
Background sectfon of this chapter.
▪ Implement and expand the public space recycling recommendatfons from UW-
Oshkosh students for Main Street, partfcularly the Downtown Oshkosh
Refreshment Area.6
▪ Consider sponsoring lending and swapping programs to reduce waste that
would end up in a landfill.
4. Composting. Begin long-term planning to support compostfng services in the community.
o Lead Responsibility: Sanitatfon Division
o Time Frame: Long Term (5+ years)
o Implementation Details:
▪ Build staff capacity within the Sanitatfon Division to begin planning a compostfng
partnership and pilot program, with at least 0.25 full-tfme employee equivalent
(FTE) available to manage the program.
▪ Identffy and partner with a local community organizatfon that is interested in
hostfng a compostfng pilot program.
▪ Identffy a private or non-profit third-party compostfng vendor that can provide a
pilot for compostfng services in Oshkosh via a public procurement process. The
City should identffy if the vendor already has a compostfng facility available with
capacity for the pilot program, what their monitoring and reportfng process for
compostfng volume and contaminatfon rates would be, and what support they
would need from City employees.
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▪ Work with the local community organizatfon to circulate compostfng containers
on an opt-in basis, and/or consider establishing a central, shared-compostfng bin
for use by anybody in a centralized locatfon.
▪ Establish a fair but sustainable customer price for compostfng services that
would support the program with similar levels of subsidy as the Automatfc
Collectfon Program, if any.
▪ Evaluate the program one year after full implementatfon to consider whether to
extend the pilot program, expand the pilot to more locatfons, or abandon the
program for other alternatfves. Key performance indicators should include the
percentage of eligible customers who opt-in to the program, estfmated total
landfill waste diverted, contaminatfon rates, and service fee pricing.
▪ Discuss the opportunity to utflize the UW-Oshkosh biodigester for biowaste
disposal to supplement compostfng capacity.
5. Hazardous waste. Coordinate with Winnebago County Solid Waste to contfnue to provide
sufficient hazardous waste disposal services to avoid illegal dumping and contaminatfon from
improper disposal of hazardous materials.
o Lead Responsibility: Sanitatfon Division
o Time Frame: Ongoing
o Implementation Details:
▪ Discuss the potentfal for offering hazardous waste disposal for more hours and
days of the year.
▪ Identffy guidance about how residents should store and handle hazardous waste
during periods when disposal services are not offered and promote the dates
and hours when they are offered as a part of other waste management
educatfonal material distributfon. Include informatfon about the negatfve
impacts of hazardous waste dumping on water quality, soils, outdoor recreatfon,
constructfon site contaminatfon, property devaluatfon, wildlife habitat,
landscape health, and more.
▪ Conduct public engagement during hazardous waste collectfon events to identffy
barriers to hazardous waste disposal and promote the services available to
residents, providing guidance on future hazardous waste planning.
6. Littering. Ensure public waste receptacles can be deployed in areas experiencing littering,
especially in parks, near the lakefront and riverfront, and downtown.
o Lead Responsibility: Department of Public Works, Sanitatfon Division
o Time Frame: Short (<3 years) and Medium term (3-5 years)
o Implementation details:
▪ Short: Identffy areas where public litter is an issue and undertake
recommendatfons made for public spaces.
▪ Medium: Consider offering a waste receptable sponsorship program, potentfally
in additfon to any bench sponsorship or similar programs.
7. Leaf and brush waste. Contfnue to offer leaf and brush waste disposal seasonally.
o Lead Responsibility: Sanitatfon Division
o Time Frame: Ongoing
o Implementation details:
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▪ Contfnue to stress in outreach literature and online that on-site management via
compostfng, mulching, and grass-cycling is preferred.
▪ Ensure that leaf and brush waste does not become a nutrient source in area
waterways. This involves collectfon, storage, and distributfon practfces.7
Further reading:
5 EPA guidance on conductfng waste assessments: https://www.epa.gov/smm/instructfons-conductfng-waste-assessments
6 UW-Oshkosh student report on waste receptacle program for the Downtown Oshkosh Refreshment Area (DORA):
https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/SustainableOshkosh/Documents/Downtown_Waste_Management.pdf
7 Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District guidance on reducing phosphorous pollutfon:
https://www.madsewer.org/news-resources/blog/simple-ways-to-reduce-phosphorus-pollutfon/