Column: Recycling myths, busted
By Amanda Haffele
Recycling is part of daily life, but it can be confusing. The following recycling myths apply to Wisconsin residents.
Myth: Batteries can go in your curbside recycling bin.
Reality: Batteries and battery-containing devices should never be placed in curbside recycling bins. Many rechargeable batteries pose a significant fire risk at recycling facilities, trash sites, or in haulers’ trucks.
Single-use alkaline batteries can be discarded in the trash. Rechargeable batteries, like those from cordless power tools, lawn equipment, cellphones, and laptops, should be recycled at a drop-off facility. In Portage County, residents can take batteries to the Portage County Solid Waste Department, Staples, BatteriesPlus, or Lowe’s (rechargeable batteries only). Fees may apply.
Myth: Recycling ends up in landfills or overseas.
Reality: Wisconsin has a strong recycling industry, with 44 materials recovery facilities (MRFs) that process recyclables. Most residential recycling in Portage County is sent to the Tri-County MRF in Outagamie County, the largest publicly owned facility in Wisconsin.
Each year, MRFs report to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources how much cardboard, paper, metal, glass, and plastic they successfully process and how much residual—trash or non-captured recyclables—ends up in landfills. The state average residual rate is 14%, but Portage County averages around 10%, meaning approximately 90% of curbside recyclables are diverted from landfills.
Most of Portage County’s recyclables stay in the Midwest, supporting Wisconsin’s paper industry.
Myth: All plastics can be recycled.
Reality: In Portage County, only plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs are recyclable. The shape of the container, not the resin identification code, determines recyclability.
Examples of recyclable bottles include water, soda, shampoo, condiment, and cleaning product containers. Recyclable jugs include laundry detergent, milk, and large water containers. Recyclable tubs include yogurt, sour cream, and margarine containers.
Always empty the containers and replace the caps or lids.
Myth: Recyclables in plastic bags get recycled.
Reality: Bagged recyclables are pulled from sorting lines and thrown in the trash. MRF workers prioritize removing fire hazards like gas cylinders and batteries, sharps, scrap metal, and tanglers such as holiday lights or cords. Opening bagged recyclables poses safety risks and is not feasible during sorting.
Myth: Recycling old electronics risks data theft.
Reality: Responsible electronics recyclers wipe data or destroy memory storage devices. Portage County Solid Waste partners with Dynamic Lifecycle Innovations, certified for secure data destruction.
To protect yourself, back up needed data, sign out of accounts, and perform a factory reset. Remove SIM cards from smartphones before recycling.
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].