2005 County Winners

Marinette and Oconto Counties - Joint ownership and operation of the Mar-Oco Landfill

Marinette County constructed a new landfill near Crivitz in the mid-1980s.  It began accepting waste in 1988.  In June 1990, Marinette and Oconto Counties agreed to joint ownership of the landfill, and in 2000 the two counties agreed to purchase equipment and hire staff to begin joint, in-house operation of the landfill.

The results of the decision to "in-source" are:  positive cash flow, less windblown litter and increased long-term disposal capacity due to better disposal methods.

La Crosse County - Implementation of Regional Solid Waste Policy Board and Extension of Waste Supply Contract

The La Crosse Disposal System has operated on a regional basis for years, accepting solid waste from surrounding communities and supplying that waste to Xcel Energy's nearby waste-to-energy plant.  This public-private partnership generally worked well. But the governance structure (a committee of the La Crosse County Board had oversight responsibility) did not reflect the regional nature of the system, which includes multiple cities, towns and counties in Wisconsin and Minnesota. 

Cooperation by the units of government was needed to finance a retrofit of air quality protection features at the waste-to-energy facility.  In 2003, the governmental units agreed to a 15-year program that would continue supplying waste to the facility, provide funding for the retrofit and establish a governing body with regional representation. 

The results of the agreement include:  stability for the regional waste disposal system allowing it to thrive in a competitive market, cost savings for all participants and enhanced opportunities for additional cooperation