Damn Near Russia Strikes Again!

Just in case the Obamawackies run out of dumb ideas, there's always Wisconsin's Legislature and DNR providing utterly un-enforceable legal clutter. No different from seat-belt "primary" offense laws, this is merely another way of creating utter disregard for law.

Starting January 1, 2011 it will be illegal in Wisconsin for anyone to dispose of automotive engine oil filters or oil absorbent materials, including granular absorbents, cloth absorbents, and paper towels in landfills.

While in general terms this is well-meaning, it's also about as practical as demanding that kids use clean-wipes after each ingestion of sticky candy. In the real world, a place which does not include Madison, this is simply not going to work for shade-tree mechanics.

But it will give wardens a few more reasons to invite themselves onto your property.

Say you want to change the oil-filter on your car at the ranch. You go to the DNR's "helpful" suggestions page and find.........eh.......not..... too.... much..... help. F'r example, this gem:

Some companies that supply clean absorbents will accept those absorbents after they have been used.

The word "some" isn't exactly encouraging. Farm/Fleet? Ace Hardware?

More of the same here:

...some communities allow used oil and oil filters to be collected at their waste transfer stations or at specific collection sites.

"Some." Not "many." Not "all." Just "some."

And then there's this:

Several recyclers across the state also accept used oil filters for recycling.

Ooooooohhh! "Several" across the State!!! Like where? Mazomanie? Superior? 16th/National in Milwaukee?

Even DNR knows this is pretty close to moronic. They half-capitulate on their very own page:

Cloth absorbents should be reused as long as possible and may be sent to a landfill after being cleaned to established industry standards to remove the oil.

So. If you use a "cloth absorbent" (AKA 'grease rag') in your garage or barn, you should use it a LOT. And before you toss that rag, you should "clean it to established industry standards"--presumably with the highly flammable solvent you keep in your garage for just these occasions--and THEN you dump the rag into a landfill. (Then, of course, you have to dispose of the highly-flammable/VOC-emitting solvent. Criminal trial to follow.....)

Sure. Whatever.

HT: Berry via Jo