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