Recycling - Curbside and Drop-off

Summary of Recycling Services of the Operations Department

The City's recycling program officially began in 1989 as a result of a comprehensive recycling study. The study examined various recycling options and included a plan of action for implementation.

The first provisions of the State's recycling law became effective in 1991, when major appliances, waste oil and lead-acid batteries were banned from all Wisconsin landfills. In response, the City established a drop-off collection point at the sanitary landfill for all of these materials, where residents can bring them at no cost. There is a separate collection area for tires, which have also been banned from the landfill. The City contracts to have the tires shredded and then marketed for use as a fuel supplement to coal. A fee is charged for tire disposal to cover the cost of processing.

In 1993, the second phase of the recycling law became effective banning yard waste from Wisconsin landfills. In response, the City established a yard waste composting facility adjacent to the currently operating demolition landfill. Residents of Janesville can drop off all yard waste at the site free of charge. The City manages these wastes to create compost, which can be obtained by residents free of charge. The City also provides two, one-week curbside collections of containerized yard waste and bundled brush, one in the spring and one in the fall.

The City began curbside recycling in April 1994 in anticipation of the final phase of the State's recycling law, which banned an additional ten materials from Wisconsin landfills in 1995. Residents are offered every-other-week collection of newspapers, cardboard, magazines, paper and mixed containers.

Collection is accomplished using one person, side-loading vehicles specifically designed for recycling. In 1995, the City received a Governor's Recycling Award for outstanding achievement in the category of municipal recycling programs with populations between 50,000 and 75,000.

General Info

Recycling is Mandatory in Wisconsin

Wisconsin law requires all citizens in Wisconsin to recycle at home and at work. Households and businesses may no longer dispose of the following items with their regular trash:

• Newspaper (& similar paper)
• Magazines (& similar paper)
• Office Paper (does not apply to households)
• Corrugated Paper & Container Board (such as cereal & gift boxes)
• Steel & Tin Cans
• Aluminum Containers & Cans
• Unbroken Glass Bottles & Jars
• 1 and 2 Plastic Containers
  marked with these signs:
• Appliances
• Vehicle Batteries
• Waste Oil
• Tires
• Yard Waste

The City provides each single family and two-to four-unit residence with a recycling bin and collection service for the materials (called "recyclables") listed. Please mark your address (not your name) on the bin in permanent marker for easier identification. Take tires, appliances, batteries, and oil to the special recycling drop-off area at the City's sanitary landfill, where they will be recycled or disposed of separately. (These items are not landfilled).

If you are moving

The bin you received is the property of the City of Janesville, and must remain at the residence to which it was issued. Please leave it behind for the new residents. You may keep any extra bin you purchased from City Services. If you do not have a bin at your new home, please call City Services Center.

Recycling at Multi-Family and Non-Residential Facilities

The law requires owners of multiple-family dwellings containing five or more units and nonresidential facilities (governmental, commercial and retail businesses, industries, and institutions) to establish recycling programs for their tenants, employees, and occupants. Call City Services Center to receive information about recycling program requirements.

As required by law, the City has adopted these provisions within its ordinance system. The ordinance also gives the City enforcement & inspection authority.

Braille Recycling & Solid Waste Handbooks Available

City Services Center now has available copies of the City of Janesville's 2000 Recycling and Solid Waste handbook in Braille. The handbooks contain guidelines for Janesville residents on collection and disposal of recycling, trash, medical, yard and other types of household wastes. Call City Services Center or stop at 2200 U.S. Highway 51 North weekdays between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. to pick up a handbook in the Braille or standard version.

How To Recycle

What is Collected at Curb

• Magazines & Newspapers
  Can include newspaper inserts, advertisements, phone books, & catalogs.
• Cardboard
  Corrugated boxes, cereal boxes (remove inserts), pop cases, and gift boxes (remove bows & foil wrapping). Tape, twine, and staples can remain on boxes.
• Paper
  Includes office, printer, and copier paper as well as junk mail. Excludes any paper with a wax liner.
• Aluminum, Steel & Tin Cans
  Food, beverage, & empty aerosol cans.
• Glass Containers
  Clear, brown, & green food and beverage bottles & jars.
• Plastic Containers
  Pop, laundry soap, bleach bottles, milk jugs, & other containers marked on the bottom with

Take to Recycling Center if you Choose

• Foil pie pans & TV dinner trays
• Bottle caps
• Aluminum foil, pots & pans
• Silverware
• Hangers
• Large aluminum & steel items
• Eyeglasses - Drop off undamaged pairs in yellow and blue Lion's Club collection boxes around Janesville for reuse.

Discard These Items with Trash; Do Not Recycle

Anything not a food, beverage, or laundry jug, jar or bottle can be discarded with trash or reused, including:

• Styrofoam�
• Foam peanuts
• Plastic bags & wrap
• Pyrex�
• Ceramics
• Crystal Dishes
• Any plastics labeled 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7
• Windows
• Drinking glasses
• Mirrors
• Light bulbs
• Toys
• Diapers
• Motor oil containers
• Moisture resistant/waxy papers like salt and pet food bags, ice cream drums, milk cartons, & frozen juice containers.
• Food or oil-contaminated papers like pizza boxes, donut boxes, egg cartons (even if there is no food or residue on them), paper towels, & tissues.

How to Recycle at the Curb

Bottles, Cans, Jugs, & Jars:

• Discard plastic caps. Remove metal lids and place loosely in bin. Labels and "neck" rings can stay on.
• Rinse clean
• Flatten all plastic containers. Do not try to flatten aerosol cans.
• Mix together in bin.

Newspapers, Magazines, Paper, & Cardboard:

• Flatten all boxes.
• Bundle with string or twine, or mix newspapers, magazines, paper, and cardboard together in brown paper grocery bags. Bundles may be no larger than two feet by three feet by 14" thick.
• You may place flattened cardboard inside another cardboard box as long as the overall dimension is not larger than two feet by three feet by 14" thick.
• Place bundles or paper bags next to or on top of bin when at the curb.
• Boxes not flattened and either bundled or placed in bags cannot be collected.
• IMPORTANT REMINDER: Please do not place loose newspapers, magazines, paper, & cardboard out for collection.

Where to Recycle

Place bin and paper bags or bundles at the curb by 7 a.m. on your collection day, or collection crews may miss them. Please place recyclables two or three feet away from your trash.

When to Recycle

Recyclables will be collected on your regular trash day, every other week. Trash is collected weekly. To determine on which weeks your recyclables will be collected, call the City Services Center or see the current recycling calendar and map.

Recycling Drop Off Program

Take tires, appliances, metal, vehicle batteries, and oil to the sanitary landfill for recycling.  Please check in at the landfill office, where you will be directed to the correct disposal site.

Waste Tire Recycling

Take items to the special drop-off area at the sanitary landfill for recycling. The sanitary landfill is located on Black Bridge Road between Highway 51 and Milton Avenue. Please check in at the landfill office, where you will be directed to the correct disposal site.

Tires must be kept separate from other wastes. Vehicles with more than ten tires will be charged $200.00 per ton.

Appliance Recycling

Take items to the special drop-off area at the sanitary landfill for recycling. The sanitary landfill is located on Black Bridge Road between Highway 51 and Milton Avenue. Please check in at the landfill office, where you will be directed to the correct disposal site.

The City will not accept propane or other pressurized tanks. For safety reasons, please remove doors on appliances if possible. Some recycling centers may accept appliances for recycling (check the yellow pages under "recycling centers").

Vehicle Battery Recycling

Take items to the special drop-off area at the sanitary landfill for recycling. The sanitary landfill is located on Black Bridge Road between Highway 51 and Milton Avenue. Please check in at the landfill office, where you will be directed to the correct disposal site.

You may drop off auto, marine, and motorcycle lead-acid batteries at the landfill, free of charge. Please keep caps on all batteries.

Waste Oil Recycling

Take items to the special drop-off area at the sanitary landfill for recycling. The sanitary landfill is located on Black Bridge Road between Highway 51 and Milton Avenue. Please check in at the landfill office, where you will be directed to the correct disposal site.

You may drop off engine oil at the sanitary landfill, free of charge. Waste oil that has been mixed with any other substance will not be accepted. Place oil in a secure container like a milk or laundry jug.