A pile of unrecyclable materials pulled from the Portage County Solid Waste recycling facility on the afternoon of May 30. The pile includes appliances, plastic films and bags, bagged materials, yard debris, toys, a snow fence, and a large net. (Courtesy Portage Co.)

Portage Co. Solid Waste reports surge in improper recycling

May 31, 2024

By Brandi Makuski

Plover — The Portage Co. Solid Waste facility reports that its workers have seen a significant increase in improperly recycled items.

Between May 28 and May 30 alone, workers removed four microwaves, several small appliances, four tires, numerous bundles of yard waste and debris, hoses, blankets, pillows, buckets of rocks, carpet, carpet padding, clothing, toys, and two loader buckets full of bagged recyclables and loose plastic films and bags.

Solid Waste Director Amanda Haffele is urging residents and businesses to be more cautious about the materials they place in recycling bins, carts, and dumpsters.

Acceptable recyclable items include plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs; aluminum and steel cans; flattened cardboard; mixed paper; and glass bottles and jars.

Recyclables should be kept loose and not bagged, as bagged materials pose safety risks to workers and are removed from the sorting line and placed into the trash.

Improper recycling also puts extra work on employees and can damage the county’s sorting equipment, Haffele said.

The Portage County Solid Waste Facility processes recyclables from Adams, Marathon, Portage, Waupaca, Waushara, and Wood counties.

For more information on what can and cannot be recycled, visit the county’s website at co.portage.wi.gov/396/Solid-Waste.