SHWEC provides technical assistance to Wisconsin's businesses and communities to promote the recycling of materials that in the past may have been landfilled or incinerated. These outreach efforts have enabled local programs to recycle more waste materials as well as improving the efficiency of waste management programs.

SHWEC has an extensive collection of recycling publications on topics ranging from the management of used electronics to composting kitchen scraps in a home compost pile. Additionally SHWEC has a strong partnership with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Recycling Program which enables each organization to more be effective in assisting businesses and communities divert more materials from Wisconsin's landfills.

SHWEC provides educational support to communities to promote awareness of the environmental impacts of solid and hazardous waste. We work directly with local government, business, and citizen groups to provide accurate and balanced information that can lead to resolution of local conflict, and improvements in the environment and local economy. Some examples of recent work in this area include:

Material Recycling Facilities (MRFs) sort materials collected from businesses and residents into saleable commodities used in the manufacture of recycled products. The program provides technical assistance to MRF operators that enables them to improve product quality, improve operations, and provide safer working environments for MRF employees.

This program builds the capacity of Master Gardeners, Solid Waste Managers and others to teach the art of home composting to others. In addition to an initial training session participants receive a binder containing handouts and reference materials that can be utilized for creating composting displays and teaching others about composting.

In this day of identity theft, people and businesses are very familiar with protecting their important paper documents by shredding them. The same level of concern exists for companies who want to protect their digital data. This story highlights a small company in Iron River, Wisconsin, that provides that service and is committed to recycling 100% of everything that comes in the door, even though they are located miles away from most active recycling markets.

The company requested SHWEC assistance in finding a new and reliable market for the tons of paper, plastics and cardboard generated during the break down of packaging and other processes at the company. SHWEC helped them obtain a reliable and cost effective vendor that will help the company generate several thousands of dollars of additional revenue each year while being able to recycle 100% of all of the packaging that comes to their facility. Digital Destruction Services provides an excellent example of what can be accomplished by even small companies located almost anywhere in Wisconsin.