Column: In honor of a new school year…A recycling pop quiz

By Amanda Haffele

In the spirit of a new school year, I’ve prepared a short pop quiz, recycling style. I hope you’ve been paying close attention to my articles (answers are below).

True or False Questions

1. Residents have to sort recyclables.
2. The only recyclable plastics are plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs.
3. Cracker boxes are recyclable.
4. Portage County Solid Waste accepts yard debris.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What service is not offered by the Solid Waste Department? 
   1. Household Hazardous Waste Disposal
   2. Dumpster Rentals
   3. Confidential Shredding
2. Where can residents properly dispose of medication? 
   1. Sheriff’s Department
   2. Curbside Recycling Bin
   3. Portage County Solid Waste Facility
3. What can’t be recycled?
   1. Cereal Boxes
   2. Milk Cartons
   3. Aluminum Cans
4. What needs to be recycled?
   1. Diapers
   2. Mattresses
   3. Electronics

Answers

1. False. Recyclables do not need to be sorted. This means each material (plastic bottles, aluminum cans, tin cans, cardboard, paper, and glass) can all be mixed together in the curbside bin. The only exception I’m aware of is for the town of Grant residents. In the Town of Grant, residents have dual-stream recycling. This means they must separate their cans and bottles from their cardboard and paper using two different recycling bins.
2. True. The only types of plastic that can be recycled in Portage County are those that are shaped like bottles, jugs, and tubs. There are three ways to determine if the plastic item is recyclable. First, determine if the plastic is a bottle or jug by checking for a neck (i.e., water bottles and detergent bottles). Second, look to see if the container looks similar to a cottage cheese, yogurt, or coffee container. Third, check to see if the bottle has a belly button on the bottom of the container (i.e., soda bottles and peanut butter jars) or if the bottle or jug has a seam running along the entire bottom (i.e., disinfectant wipe containers and milk jugs). If the plastic items don’t meet any of these requirements, then it’s trash (such as the case with plastic berry and lettuce containers).
3. True. Cracker boxes and all other pantry boxes are recyclable with cardboard. Make sure to flatten them prior to recycling.
4. False. We are not permitted to accept yard waste or debris. Check with your municipality to see what opinions they have. Composting on site is another option. 
5. B. We are a receiving facility only. Check with your municipality for bulk item collection, contract with a private company for a dumpster, or bring large loads directly to the Transfer Facility.
6. A. Medication can be disposed of at the Portage County Sherriff’s Office. Medication can also be properly disposed of at the Plover and Stevens Point Police Stations as well. It’s free, easy, and confidential. Medications are securely stored until the Department of Justice collects them for incineration. Representatives stay with the medication at all times and watch as it is completely incinerated at the waste-to-energy facility in Indiana.
7. B. Milk or dairy-free alternative cartons along with juice, and soup cartons are not recyclable. Cartons are coated to prevent the liquid inside from coming out, and shelf-stable cartons (i.e., chicken stock) have a thin layer of aluminum between the paper walls. The buyers of our cardboard and paper do not have the ability to break the bonds between all these items, therefore, making it a contaminant in the recycling stream.
8. C. Most electronics are banned from landfills and need to be properly recycled. We accept almost any kind of electronic and size at our facility in Plover for a fee. Best Buy and Staples accept limited types of electronics, call them for more information. 

How did you do? Did you ace it? Did it spark any questions? Feel free to give me a call at (715) 343-6297 or visit our website www.co.portage.wi.gov, click on Departments, then Solid Waste.  

Amanda Haffele is the Portage County Solid Waste Director. She works at the Material Recovery Facility, 600 Moore Rd., Plover, and can be reached at 715.343.6297 or [email protected].