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Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel continues his innovative efforts to save taxpayers’ dime and law enforcement’s time. With members of the Brown County Sheriff’s Department, Schimel announced that six meth lab cleanup sites will be placed around Northern Wisconsin. These will be especially important because of the toxic chemicals law enforcement are exposed to during cleanups.
“Meth use and production is threatening our state, and draining law enforcement’s resources,”said Attorney General Schimel in a Wisconsin Department of Justice press release. “These specialized containers are going to help reduce the resources needed to clean up meth labs and make communities safer after a lab is found.”
Here’s what they are saying:
WTAQ:“Brad Schimel was in Brown County Monday announcing the county as one of six sites for a new meth chemical storage container. He says the sites are necessary as law enforcement runs into unsafe hazardous waste when locating and shutting down meth labs.”
Green Bay Press Gazette: “The new containers are part of the Wisconsin Department of Justice’s kNOw Meth campaign. The campaign is part of a bigger effort to curb and fight methamphetamine use in the state. The containers were provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration. The other counties receiving containers are Barron, Dane, Eau Claire, Marathon and Vernon.”
Wisconsin Radio Network: “The containers provided by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will save local law enforcement time and money and increase safety and security during cleanups. According to a press release from Schimmel’s office, it’s estimated the containers will on average help reduce cleanup costs by approximately 90 percent.”
WBAY: “The DOJ says an average meth lab cleanup effort costs about $3,000. The storage containers will help cut those costs to about $300 on average. The Drug Enforcement Administration is providing the containers to the state. The initial cost is $250,000 for maintenance and supplies.”
WQOW: “In a press release from Schimel, he said an FBI report from 2017 estimates that from 2011 to 2015, methamphetamine use in Wisconsin likely expanded between 250 and 300 percent. From 2012 to 2015, 73% of Wisconsin counties have had at least one meth lab; each pound of meth produced creates five to six pounds of hazardous waste.”
WHBY: “Brown County Sheriff’s deputies say they seized more than 6600 grams of meth last year. They say that number has already doubled in 2018.”
94.3 FM: “Currently, once a meth lab is discovered, the law enforcement agency has to call in a company to dispose of the waste and stay on scene until they arrive. Schimel says that costs money in the form of overtime pay as well as contracting for the job. With the new system, officers nearby will be able to dispose of the waste and make the area safer quicker than before.”
