Criteria for an Effective Recycling Program

Each RU in Wisconsin is required to maintain an approved effective recycling program as defined in state statutes, implemented and enforceable through a local ordinance. The criteria for an effective recycling program are:

1. A public education component.
2. A requirement that occupants or residential, commercial, retail, industrial, and governmental buildings either recycle "banned" materials or treat these wastes at a processing facility.
3. A requirement that the owners of building containing five or more dwelling units provide adequate, separate containers for recyclables, notify tenants about the recycling program and provide for the collection and recycling of the materials.
4. A requirement that owners of commercial, retail, industrial and governmental facilities provide adequate, separate containers for recyclables, regularly notify all users and occupants of the facility about the recycling programs and provide for the collection and delivery of recyclable materials to a recycling facility.
5. A system for collecting separated recyclables materials from single family residences.
6. A system for the processing and marketing of recyclable materials collected by the responsible unit or by municipalities located in the responsible unit.
7. A prohibition on disposing of recyclable materials in a landfill or incinerator.
8. Provisions for the management of waste that is not separated for recycling or recovery that is consistent with the preferred solid waste management options outlined in the law.
9. An annual report with the tonnage of recyclable materials collected to be submitted to DNR by April 30 of each calendar year.
10. Adequate enforcement of the above components. By August 1, 2006, each RU shall have a Compliance Assurance Plan (CAP) developed and ready to be implemented.
11. Equipment or means necessary to implement the public education, separation, single-family residence collection, marketing and enforcement components described above.
12. A reasonable effort through the program components described above to reduce as much as possible the amount by weight of each material included in the 1995 ban that is generated within the RU and disposed of in a landfill, converted to fuel, or burned without energy recovery.