Recycling Quick Reference

• Material Banned from Disposal in Wisconsin
• Who Must Recycle?
• Who Can tell me How and What to Recycle?
• Local Government Responsibility (Responsible Units)
• Wisconsin Rates
• Clip Art
• Priorities for Managing Solid Waste
• Recycling for Kids and Teachers
• Recycling Grants
• Recycling Away from Home Campaign

Material Banned from Disposal in Wisconsin*

Also, all businesses and institutions must recycle computers and fluorescent bulbs unless they are managed as a hazardous waste.

* Responsible units for recycling in two grandfathered incinerator areas (LaCrosse and Barron Counties) are only required by the state to recycle aluminum, steel and glass containers, although local ordinances in those area may require paper and plastic items to be recycled as well.

** Currently only plastic food and beverage containers numbered one and two (#1 and #2) must be recycled. DNR has granted a waiver to collection requirements and disposal restrictions for plastic containers made of resins numbered three through seven (#3 - #7) and for polystyrene foam packaging.

Note: Some local ordinances require other items to be recycled.

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Who Must Recycle?

Basically every person, institution and business must follow local ordinances and recycle all of the banned items listed above.

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Who can tell me how and what to recycle?

Residents should ask their local unit of government (responsible unit); tenants in large apartment buildings, condos or trailer parks should contact their landlord; and businesses and institutions should contact their landlord or waste service provider or hauler.

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Local Government Responsibility (Responsible Units)

State law gives local governments recycling responsibilities. Local governments with these responsibilities are called responsible units or RUs. Initially, all local governments (townships, tribes, villages and cities) were responsible for recycling unless they merged with other units of government to form larger RUs. Currently, there are approximately 1,060 RUs in Wisconsin

Each RU must develop and implement a recycling program to manage the banned materials residents generated within its jurisdiction and is responsible for establishing local ordinances to ensure all residents, businesses, government agencies and institutions recycle.

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Wisconsin Rates

Wisconsin Recycling Rates

Go to Wisconsin Recycling Rates to find out the recycling rates for materials banned from Wisconsin landfills.

Solid Waste Generated, Recycled, and Thrown Away

Go to Wisconsin's Trash Tally to find out how we dispose of solid waste generated within the state.

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Clip Art

Over the last 15 years, DNR has produced graphics or art to help promote and explain Wisconsin's recycling program. You may use our Recycling Clip Art to dress up your newsletter, publications and Web pages.

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Priorities for Managing Solid Waste

Wisconsin's Recycling Law establishes priorities for solid waste management options. Those options, ranked from most preferred to least, are:

• Reduction of the amount of waste generated
• Reuse
• Recycling
• Composting
• Energy recovery (burn waste to generate energy)
• Landfill disposal
• Burning without energy generation

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Recycling for Kids and Teachers

Go to EEK! (Environmental Education for Kids) and use "Search" to quickly find recycling activities, information and games.

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Recycling Grants

DNR has Basic Recycling Grants and Recycling Efficiency Grants for responsible units and one Waste Reduction and Recycling Demonstration Grant program to fund innovative waste reduction and recycling projects on a pilot or demonstration scale. Find out more.

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Recycling "Away from Home" Campaign

Wisconsin residents are doing a good job recycling at home, but need to do a better job when they're away from home - too many aluminum cans and plastic bottles are not being recycled. Check out our Special Events Recycling page to find some resources to help you promote recycling away from home.

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