Simple guidelines for all recycling programs include:

• Rinse Your Recyclables (and empty them too!). Food residue and liquids in bottles can cause problems with the sorting equipment, as well as have impacts on other materials like paper and glass. A quick rise is all that is required.

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• Cut the Cups. Single use cups such as paper and foam cups are not recyclable in the vast majority of programs. This is also true for paper plates and Styrofoam to-go containers. These materials have very few markets so, as with all items, check to see if your recycling program is an exception.

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• Don’t Be Flexible. Flexible packaging, such as sandwich bags, frozen food bags, toothpaste tubes, food pouches, zip pouches, and others are typically not accepted in curbside or drop off programs. Many local stores collect plastic bags and wraps. For a list of stores in your area check www.plasticfilmrecycling.org.  

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• Plastic Bottle Caps. Most communities want bottle caps returned to the empty bottle, while some communities need them placed in the garbage. Regardless, bottle caps should never be loose in your cart or bin.

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• Know Before You Throw. Check with your local community to see what’s accepted in your recycling program. Just because an item has a recycling symbol on it does not mean your community accepts it in your curbside or drop off program. 

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Scroll down to learn about everyday items we use that are banned from Wisconsin landfills.