Recycling and Garbage

Waukesha, WI - Waukesha County is delighted to announce the selection of Waste Management of Wisconsin, Inc. as its new recycling processor, marking another significant milestone in the county's commitment to reducing service cost to taxpayers and environmental sustainability.  

Collection, processing and sale of recyclable material saves Waukesha County taxpayers a projected $3.7 million per year.  The County annually serves nearly 100,000 households from 25 municipalities which contribute approximately 25,000 tons of recyclable material to the collaborative program.   

Residents in participating communities will now be able to recycle #4 plastics, enabled as a result from Waste Management’s state-of-the-art recycling facility, equipped with the latest technology and access to emerging markets, facilitating the recycling of more materials that were previously directed to landfills.  Examples of newly accepted #4 (LPDE) plastic containers include tubs of sour cream, yogurt or other plastic tubs with lids.  

Recycling Guidelines and Safety Reminders:  

To ensure safety and efficient processing at the new facility, Waukesha County reminds all residents that certain items should not be placed in recycling bins. Key non-recyclables include:  

• Scrap metal including car parts  
• Plastic bags  
• Hazards including flammables, batteries, gas cylinders, electronics and sharps  
• Garbage including food and liquids  
• Tanglers including hoses, wires and chains  
• These items pose safety risks and operational challenges within the recycling facility, and proper disposal guidelines should be followed.  

For more information regarding changes or updates to acceptable materials, please visit www.waukeshacounty.gov/recycling for a complete recycling guide.  

Your Actions Matter!

Recycle right to help protect the environment.

Recyclables need to be loose, empty and dry before they are thrown in your recycling cart. Items that are filled with liquid or dirty with food residue are not acceptable because they can damage other recyclables, attract rodents, and cause the sorting equipment to incorrectly sort the material.

It is also important that your Household Hazardous Waste is not included in your trash or recycling cart.  Find out more about disposing of HHW items.