Recycling basics

When to Set the Cart Out for Pickup

Green recycling carts should be out to the curb by 6:30 a.m. on their scheduled collection day.

 

Should You Bag Your Recyclables?

No.  Recycling is best loose in the collection cart.

The only exception is shredded paper.

If your living situation requires you to use a plastic bag for recycling, you must choose a clear bag. This way the sorters can identify what is inside is recyclable. If the bag is not see-through, it will be assumed to be trash.

 

Acceptable Material, Resources, & General Guidelines

Materials Accepted in the Recycling Cart

• Acceptable Plastic Containers
• Acceptable Paper Items
• Acceptable Metal Items
• Acceptable Glass Items

 

Recycling Resources

• Details about paper guides, magnets, videos and more can be found here.

 

General Guidelines

• Recycling lids should be closed when out for collection
• Recycables should be clean, dry, and free from debris
  • How clean is "clean"? Don't leave obvious residue behind. It does not have to be perfect, but don't leave big chunks of food or other debris in the bottle or jar. Make an honest effort.
• Do not put trash, food, clothes, and other contaminants into the recycling cart.
• Be sure you are using the cart correctly in general.
• Check out this page of common recycling mistakes to be sure you are not making any of these simple errors in your home.

 

Recycling resources

Simple Paper Guide

Use this guide to see what can go into your cart (or keep reading this page).  Print it & post it on the fridge or elsewhere at home so everyone can know what should go into the recycling. 

 

Cart Lid

Check the lid of your recycling cart, too. Many carts now have this guide printed on them. The lid guide can be used for printing and posting.

We also have 8 x 11 vinyl sticker versions of this guide available so you can stick it to the lid of the cart if you believe it would help.

 

Magnet

You can get a free 4" x 6" magnet from that covers the recycling basics, too. Magnets are available in Spanish, Chinese, and Hmong.

 

Recyclopedia

We publish a booklet regarding recycling regularly.

Paper copies can be found in Madison Public Libraries, Streets Division offices, or mailed out to you upon request.

Download the most recent version here: 2024 Recyclopedia Mini:: English; Spanish / Español

Sorting Video

What happens to your recyclables after they are collected by the City of Madison?

They go to Pellitteri Waste Systems where they are sorted and sold to be made into new products.

 

Resource Request?

Just contact us and we can mail them any of the printed resources to you.

 

Paper Recycling

 

The following clean and dry paper products can be recycled in your green recycling cart:

Newspapers and the inserts	Flattened cardboard	Mail
Magazines and catalogs	Paper bags	Envelopes
Office & computer paper	Phone books	Cardboard-sided cans
Cereal & cracker boxes	Cardboard tube cores from paper products	Frozen food & soda boxes
Gift wrap	Egg cartons	Milk & juice cartons
Broth, soy milk, juice boxes and other aseptic/Tetrapak boxes	Receipts and bills	Paper/cardboard backing from retail packages
Paper cups

 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Cardboard boxes

Empty and flatten all cardboard boxes and place them inside the recycling cart.

Boxes that do not fit inside your cart should be flattened and cut down to a 3' x 3' size, tied in bundles 6" in height or less. Place the bundles under the cart lid or in a neat pile next to the collection cart.

You can also bring excess cardboard to a drop-off site.  

• Pizza boxes

The parts of the pizza box contaminated by food and grease should go into the trash.  You can recycle the clean sections of pizza boxes by tearing them off.

• Shredded paper

Place shredded paper in clear bags, tie the bag shut, and then place the bag into the recycling cart. It must be clear, or see-through, so the sorters can identify it is as shredded paper. The bag of shredded paper should be no larger than a basketball.

 

Paper Items that Do Not Belong in the Recycling Cart:

• Diapers
• Photographs
• Takeout containers with food stains
• Sanitary napkins
• Soiled and/or stained cardboard & paper products
• Padded envelopes
• Foil wrapping paper

 

Plastic container Recycling

 

The following rinsed clean and dry plastic containers can be placed in your green recycling cart:

Bottles (caps/lids on)	Jugs & jars (caps/lids on)	Dairy & deli tubs
Condiment bottles	Shell packaging like what is around electronics or toys	Berry containers & mushroom trays
Frozen juice containers	Other plastic boxes, containers, or bottles with necks that are #1 through #7 plastics	Yogurt containers

 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS:

• Cups

Only cups that are #1, #2, and #5 plastic can go into the cart. Be sure the cups are clean and dry before placing them into the cart.

 

Plastic Items that Do Not Belong in the Recycling Cart:

• Microwave dinner plates & other food-stained plastic containers
• Food stained containers
• Hoses
• Bubble wrap
• Cling wrap or cellophane
• Motor oil bottles
• Styrofoam
• Plastic insulation from meal kit boxes (this will tangle sorting equipment)
• Clip-on six pack rings (this will get mixed in with paper)
  
• Plastic bags/film

  
  

Can and metal recycling

The following empty & clean metal items can be placed in your green recycling cart:

Aluminum, tin, and steel cans & lids	Aluminum foil (balled up to the size of a baseball)	Aersol cans
Paint cans & lids	Foil pans	Pots & pans

COMMON QUESTION

Should I flatten cans before putting them into the recycling?

No. Flat items act like paper in the sorting system, so if you flatten the cans, they could get mixed in with the paper at the sorting facility. You can give the cans a satisfying squeeze around the middle to crinkle them, but if you stomp or crush them flat, they could get sorted incorrectly.

 

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS

• Small metal appliances

If an item is most metal like a toaster or a coffeemaker, it can be placed into the recycling cart. Place all of the glass parts into the tan trash container.

• Bottle caps, keys, etc.

Small metal items like bottle caps can be recycled if they are placed into a larger metal container, like a tin can. Crimp the can closed so the small metal items cannot fall out, and put the can into the recycling.

• Small metal items

Other metal items like plumbing fixtures or pipes can also be placed into the recycling cart, but these items must weigh less than 10 pounds and be shorter than 18 inches in length.

• Large metal items

Bigger metal items (like posts and filing cabinets), or tangling items (like aluminum blinds or chicken wire), or very heavy items (like car parts), can be recycled if they taken to a drop-off site. Some of these items may also be collected as large item.

 

glass Bottle and Jar RECYCLING

The following empty & clean glass item without lids can be placed in your green recycling cart:

Jars

Bottles

 

Glass Items that Do Not Belong in the Recycling Cart:

• Windows
• Mirrors
• Ceramics
• Drinking glasses
• Vision glasses
• Dishes and bowls
• Flower pots and vases
• Fluorescent light bulbs
• LED or incandescent light bulbs
• Laboratory glass & chemical bottles