Revamped collections have started in outdoor bins at the Monona library (outside the Nichols Road entrance)!
Expand your thinking of the 3 R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) to the 7 R’s (Rethink, Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repair, Rot, Recycle). Email or message us if you want more tips on any of these!
Wish-cycling is when we recycle items that actually belong in the garbage. These can cause problems at the sorting facility and contaminate the recycling bales to the point that they cannot be recycled. When in doubt, throw it out!
When in doubt, also consult the Madison Recyclopedia, which is a comprehensive source of information about what can be recycled in Madison, and how it can be recycled: https://www.cityofmadison.com/streets/recycling/documents/Recyclopedia2021-web.pdf
Madison (and also Fitchburg, Middleton, and many other surrounding towns) recycling is processed by Pellitteri Waste Systems. Knowing how the recycling is sorted helps all of us be better recyclers. Here is a link to a video by Pelliteri that describes their sorting procedures: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwch1gwUgQk
After watching this video, you will understand why nothing that is smaller than about 3 in x 3 in should be recycled (it falls through some cracks and contaminates the glass recycling stream).
Here are some compiled tips of information that many of us may be confused about. All the tips (plus more!) are in the Recyclopedia!
Items put in the recycling cart should be relatively clean.
Avoid bagging recycling items when you put them in the cart. If you do have to bag, use a clear bag. Preferably, put all items loose in the cart (except for shredded paper, which should be put in a clear bag).
Foil should be bundled and put in the cart (since items smaller than 3 in x 3 in can’t be recycled, the bundling is necessary).
Metal lids from glass jars and metal bottle caps should be put in a can and pinched (flat lids can contaminate the paper stream, so it is preferable to make them 3-D by doing this).
For glass jars, remove lids. For plastic containers, leave lids on.
Cartons can be recycled. Do not crush or fold them. Keep the caps on and straws in.
Do not crush aluminum cans.
Common contaminants -- (Do Not Put These in your Recycling Cart) -- plastic bags (these are no longer accepted in our curbside carts), cords/light strings/tanglers, flexible pouches (these can be recycled through TerraCycle), wire hangers, windows and mirrors, glass dishes, greasy pizza boxes, plastic liners from food boxes, diapers, small paper, plastic film, bubble wrap, foam polystyrene, scrap metal, electronics, batteries.
Message or email us with questions!