Business Sectors

Agriculture

Sector Specialist: Jeffrey Voltz
Farmers face many pressures to maintain economic viability, quality of life and a healthy environment. The Department of Natural Resources is helping farmers find ways to preserve agriculture as Wisconsin's #1 industry. For example, together, farmers and the DNR are developing "systems" approaches that integrate pest, soil, crop and nutrient management practices and encouraging the farming community to educate their neighbors on the value of farms. more...

Aquaculture

With our availability of clean water, Wisconsin is poised for a major expansion of the aquaculture industry. The consumer demand for fish has remained strong and the wild harvest of quality food fish has steadily declined. Consumers prefer the freshness and quality of locally grown fish that are free from any contaminants. Our natural resources are well suited for aquaculture and the challenge we face is to use these resources wisely without causing any degradation of our environment. The regulation of aquaculture facilities is shared with the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer protection (DATCP) and the two agencies have a draft memorandum of understanding outlining the role of each agency. For each aquaculture facility there are a number of environmental issues that DNR regulates to protect the environment. more...

Asphalt Pavement

The asphalt sector in Wisconsin contains approximately 114 plants that use mixing equipment along with environmental controls to produce asphalt pavement. The DNR's business sector specialist works with the Wisconsin Asphalt Pavement Association (WAPA) to promote awareness about environmental issues. The main environmental issues and pollution prevention opportunities in the Asphalt sector are the proper use of recycled material, controlling air emissions and effective wastewater and stormwater management. more...

Auto Recyclers/Scrap and Waste Recyclers

Sector Specialist: Mark Harings
This sector involves roughly 1,000 active and inactive salvage operations in the state, most of which are family owned and operated. There are, however, roughly 300 industrial facilities with a Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) Code of 5093, Scrap and Waste Materials. Environmental concerns associated with auto salvage are air pollutants; surface and ground water contamination; and solid and hazardous waste disposal of materials such as oils, lead, chromium, antifreeze, CFC's, solvents, gas, and many other chemicals. Several trade associations in the state currently represent the salvage industry. more...

Community Mercury Reduction

Sector Specialist: Randy Case
The Wisconsin Community Mercury Reduction Program is an important example of a DNR/community source reduction partnership. Seventeen Wisconsin communities: Appleton, Ashland, Eau Claire/Appleton, Green Bay/De Pere, Kaukauna, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison/Dane Cty, Manitowoc, Marinette, Milwaukee, Neenah/Menasha, Racine, Superior, Waukesha, Wausau/Stevens Point, and Wisconsin Rapids/Marshfield are actively involved. more ...

Construction and Demolition Debris

Sector Specialist: Kim McCutcheon
Large amounts of usable materials are generated as waste and routinely landfilled every time a building, road, or home is constructed, remodeled or demolished. There are recent efforts underway within the Wisconsin C&D industries to promote the reuse of these materials in an environmentally sound manner. Many of these materials can now be cost-effectively re-used, conserving valuable raw materials and improving a company's bottom line. more...

Dry Cleaning

Sector Specialist: Mark McDermid
A little over 300 dry cleaning facilities operate in Wisconsin. Many of these facilities are small family-owned businesses. Air, hazardous waste, and contaminated land pose the main environmental concerns. One trade association, Wisconsin Fabricare Institute, represents most of the dry cleaners in the state. DNR currently has a partnership with this trade association. more...

Food Processing

The food sector is dominated by the dairy industry with approximately 220 processing facilities. Vegetables, fruits, and specialty foods, with approximately 90 facilities, are also served. The meat industry includes approximately 70 facilities that slaughter many types of livestock or process meat to produce dozens of consumer products. Wastewater management and treatment are the predominate concerns in the food processing industry due to the vital importance of a clean and wholesome product. Another concern is the management and disposal of inedible by-products. Some of these can be fed to animals or landspread for fertilizer. In addition to providing information about environmental regulations, the sector specialist can provide guidance regarding waste management and pollution prevention. more...

Military

The state of Wisconsin and the department of Defense have formed a voluntary Alliance that focuses on pollution prevention and facilitating progressive information exchange at defense sites in Wisconsin. This alliance's mission is to create a working relationship with government agencies and local communities to promote and implement pollution prevention as the preferred strategy for protecting the environment, conserving resources, fostering community well-being and enhancing mission readiness at DOD/federal facilities in Wisconsin.more..

Wood Products

Sector Specialist: Laurel Sukup
Wood products industries comprise the largest manufacturing employment sector in 28 out of Wisconsin's 72 counties. This sector ranks second in nine and third in five additional counties. One out of every seven manufacturing jobs in Wisconsin is directly dependent on timber, an estimated 283,000 jobs, making it Wisconsin's second largest manufacturing labor force. The primary environmental issues that affect the wood products sector are air emissions, solid waste disposal and contaminated lands. Many trade associations are involved with the wood products industry. more...