Solid waste rules and statutes

Wisconsin's legislature creates and revises the Wisconsin Statutes (Wis. Stats.), while state agencies such as the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) create and revise the rules required and authorized by those statutes. These agency rules constitute the Wisconsin Administrative Code (Wis. Adm. Code).

Public participation is a critical component of agency rulemaking and we value your involvement in the DNR's rulemaking activities. There are numerous opportunities for you to participate in the DNR rulemaking process.

Learn about the DNR's rulemaking process and public input opportunities.
View the current rulemaking status of proposed permanent rules.
View the current rulemaking status of proposed emergency rules.

Current hazardous waste rules and statutes are found on Hazardous waste resources.

Solid waste rules and statutes

Solid waste administrative codes

Chapter NR 103 [exit DNR] - Water quality standards for wetlands
Chapter NR 140 [exit DNR] - Groundwater quality
Chapter NR 141 [exit DNR] - Groundwater monitoring well requirements
Chapter NR 149 [exit DNR] - Laboratory certification and registration
Chapter NR 157 [exit DNR] - Management of PCBs and products containing PCBs
Chapter NR 500 [exit DNR] - General solid waste management requirements
Chapter NR 502 [exit DNR] - Solid waste storage, transportation, transfer, incineration, air curtain destructors, processing, wood burning, composting and municipal solid waste combustors
Chapter NR 503 [exit DNR] - One time disposal landfills, small size construction and demolition waste landfills and intermediate size construction and demolition waste landfills
Chapter NR 504 [exit DNR] - Landfill location, performance, design and construction criteria
Chapter NR 506 [exit DNR] - Landfill operational criteria
Chapter NR 507 [exit DNR] - Environmental monitoring for landfills
- Chapter NR 507 Appendix I [exit DNR] - Baseline and detection monitoring requirements
- Chapter NR 507 Appendix II [exit DNR] - Substances for assessment monitoring at municipal solid waste landfills
- Chapter NR 507 Appendix III [exit DNR] - Volatile organic compounds for detection monitoring at municipal solid waste landfills
- Chapter NR 507 Appendix IV [exit DNR] - Semivolatile organic compound (SVOC) analyte1 list
- Chapter NR 507 Appendix V [exit DNR]
Chapter NR 508 [exit DNR] - Responses when a groundwater standard is attained or exceeded
Chapter NR 509 [exit DNR] - Initial site reports for landfills
Chapter NR 510 [exit DNR] - Pre-feasibility reports for landfills
Chapter NR 512 [exit DNR] - Feasibility reports for landfills
Chapter NR 514 [exit DNR] - Plan of operation and closure plans for landfills
Chapter NR 516 [exit DNR] - Landfill construction documentation
Chapter NR 518 [exit DNR] - Land spreading of solid waste
Chapter NR 520 [exit DNR] - Solid waste management fees and financial responsibility requirements
Chapter NR 524 [exit DNR] - Training and certification requirements for solid waste disposal facility operators
Chapter NR 526 [exit DNR] - Medical waste management
Chapter NR 528 [exit DNR] - Management of accumulated sediments from storm water management structures
Chapter NR 538 [exit DNR] - Beneficial use of industrial byproducts

Solid waste state statutes

Chapter 287, Wis. Stats. [exit DNR] - Solid waste reduction, recovery and recycling
Chapter 289, Wis. Stats. [PDF exit DNR] - Solid waste facilities

Proposed electronics recycling rule

WA-11-19 Electronics Recycling Rulemaking

The DNR is developing rules to codify and clarify policies related to the E-cycle Wisconsin program and define requirements for electronics processing facilities. The scope statement was approved at the December 2019 meeting of the Natural Resources Board.

WA-11-19 statement of scope

The Natural Resources Board approved the rule at its Oct. 27, 2021, meeting. At the request of the Legislature, following committee review, the DNR recalled the rule in April 2022 to make germane modifications to small sections. The NRB approved the changes at its June 22, 2022, meeting, and the DNR submitted the modified rule to the Legislature for review.