Reduce, reuse and recycle to save the household money

Families can save money, reduce waste, and keep recycling and trash workers safe, by following a few tips on recycling. Recycling can be confusing, but knowing the right thing to do with things like batteries and light strings, can prevent damage to recycling facilities.

Many items can be recycled anywhere in Wisconsin. These items, which the state bans from landfills, include cardboard (flatten boxes before putting them in carts or bins, so that recycling equipment can handle them properly); newspaper; magazines; office paper; plastic No. 1 and No. 2 containers; aluminum cans; steel (tin) cans; and glass bottles and jars.

Wrapping paper that can be torn and doesn’t have any glitter, foil or other adornments, can be recycled in the majority of programs in Wisconsin. Be sure the items are empty of any liquids and excess gunk, but there’s no need to wash them with soap or put them through the dishwasher.

For cans or bottles going into a curbside recycling cart, or container, don’t crush or flatten them – this makes it harder for equipment at recycling facilities to recognize and properly sort things like aluminum cans.

Most communities include junk mail and other mixed paper, such as cereal boxes. Check locally for a complete list and don’t rely on packaging labels.

Some items can cause serious problems at recycling facilities that aren’t designed to handle them, including a risk of fire and worker injury. Many of these can be recycled at drop-off sites, but should not go in curbside recycling bins or carts. These include tissue paper; holiday light strings, cords and other “tanglers” At modern recycling facilities, these get wrapped around equipment, meaning a facility has to be shut down for workers to cut the material loose. Some retailers, electronics recyclers and communities offer seasonal recycling programs for light strings. If that’s not an option, put broken lights in the trash.

Plastic bags, plastic film and wrap are also not accepted, as these also get tangled in recycling equipment. Bagged recyclables also cause problems, because workers can’t be sure what’s inside. Empty cans, bottles and other recyclables, into a bin or cart, then put the bag in the trash. Many types of clean, dry plastic bags and wrap can be taken to store drop-off locations.

Recycling facilities that manage cans, bottles and cardboard, and waste facilities that manage household garbage, aren’t set up to handle batteries and electronics. Rechargeable batteries cause fires in collection trucks and facilities, if they are damaged by equipment, and many electronics contain hazardous materials.

For more information about what can and can’t be recycled, visit dnr.wisconsin.gov.