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What Is & Is Not Recyclable
Put in your Recycling Cart
Rinse and mix all containers together with other recyclables in the green lid recycling cart.
- Cans: Steel (push partially attached lid into can), Empty Aerosol (non-pesticide only), Aluminum (do not crush)
- Glass: Jars & Bottles (no window glass)
- Plastics: #1, #2, #5 Plastics, Plastic containers (bottles, jugs, food, beverage, deli, ice cream, yogurt, cottage cheese, bakery, medicine/pill, kitty litter containers (Leave caps/lids on containers)
- Paper: Office paper, junk mail, catalogs, envelopes (with or without windows), magazines, newspapers, phonebooks, paperback books, and paper bags. Flatten all: Paper egg cartons, containerboard, cardboard, rolls and tubes. (You may mix together in a paper bag and put that in the cart to minimize contamination.)
Put in your Garbage Cart
Place these items and non-demolition items in your brown lid garbage/refuse cart.
- Plastic bags, plastic film, or shrink wrap (or take them to specific locations for recycling)
- Plastic straws, plates, silverware, drink pouches, frozen food containers, food,
- Styrofoam (egg cartons, hot beverage cups, plates, formed packing pieces, or packing peanuts), foam/polystyrene
- Aluminum foil & baking pans, metal or plastic liners
- Empty motor oil containers, light bulbs, mirrors, window glass, ceramics, clay pots, tissue products, paper towels, soiled paper, dirty cardboard, CD cases, vinyl (siding, etc.)
- Large plastic Items (15 gallon containers or larger, furniture items, toys, etc.) are considered garbage.
- Aseptic Boxes and Paper Cartons: soup, milk, broth, orange juice, soy milk, etc.
- Dried out latex paint and empty paint cans (with lids off).
Do Not Put in Either Cart: Electronics
- Wisconsin’s electronics recycling law bans the landfilling of computers, laptops, printers, televisions, computer peripherals, fax machines, DVD players, VCRs and other video players (i.e., DVRs), phones, video displays, etc.
- Contact the Street Dept. at 715-346-1537 or the Portage County Solid Waste Dept. at 715-343-6297 for an e-cycle drop-off location.
- Find an Electronics Recycling Site Near You
Do Not Put in Either Cart: Medicines & Sharps
Take to the City’s Drop-Off
Residents may self-haul these items to Stevens Point’s Drop-off Site at 100 Sixth Avenue or the Portage County Solid Waste Department Transfer Facility at 650 Moore Road
- Lead acid vehicle batteries
- Motor Oil. Do not mix used motor oil with gasoline, solvents, oil-gas mixture, or water contaminated oil. Put in clear screw cap plastic container (max 2.5 gallons).
- Used automotive oil filters and absorbent materials are banned from Wisconsin landfills. Filters can be taken free to the Stevens Point Drop-off or the Portage County Solid Waste Department for a fee.
- Yard materials (leaves, grass clippings, plant stalks, flowers, twigs/sticks). For home composting options, call the Portage County Solid Waste Department info Line 715-343-6297. Read more about the Compost Collection Program.
- Demolition Material, in small amounts. (Debris from major remodeling, construction projects should be self-hauled to the Portage County Solid Waste Dept. Transfer Facility.)
- Read more about Taking Demolition Material to the Drop-Off.
Take to the Po. Co. Transfer Facility
Take these items to the Portage Co. Solid Waste Dept Transfer Facility (by Appointment Only 343-6297).
- Household Hazardous Waste, degreasers, fuel, auto fluids, solvents, yard/garden pest controls, household cleaners, paints swimming pool chemicals, gun cleaning fluid, creosote, photography chemicals, etc.
- Read More about Household Hazardous Waste