What to know about recycling in Milwaukee, including how to dispose of electronics, plastic bags and batteries

Deep into the swing of spring cleaning and moving season, you may find yourself wondering how to handle batteries, old appliances, spare car parts and other materials.

Here's what to know about recycling and disposing of large or strange items in Milwaukee.

What you can recycle for weekly pickup in Milwaukee and how to prepare it

Do not bag recyclables like you would bag trash; the recycled items should be loose (with the exception of shredded paper, which should be sealed in a paper bag).

Flatten your cardboard boxes, especially if they take up a lot of space in the bin. If you have large cardboard boxes, you can leave them underneath or leaned against the recycling bin. However, you do not have to crush aluminum cans.

Leftover food or drinks in recyclable containers can contaminate entire loads. Be sure to clean and rinse out any bottles and containers before tossing them in the bin.

Items that can be recycled include aluminum and steel cans, food and beverage cartons, bottles, jars, cereal boxes, magazines, mail, newspaper, pots, pans and laundry containers. Plastic containers with a #1, #2 or #5 symbol are also allowed.

The city recently changed its schedule; starting in June, the recycling for one- to four-unit residences will be picked up every other week. In addition, a program that is running from this April to May 2022 means households will be able to request a larger recycling bin.

Here's what you cannot recycle in Milwaukee

One of the most common improperly recycled items is plastic bags. While plastic bags can be reused to store items or clean up animal waste, they cannot be recycled in your recycling bin or at any other city facility. You can take them to any Roundy's location from this list or enter your ZIP code into the Plastic Film Recycling website to find locations that may recycle plastic bags near you.

Other items that are not allowed to go in the recycling bin include car parts, scrap metal, flammable items, batteries, Christmas lights, electronics, sharps (needles, for example), hoses, wires and chains.

Propane and gas cylinders are also not accepted curbside; the city advises speaking with the original retailer from whom you purchased them for guidance on how to reuse or dispose of them.

Garbage of any kind is not accepted in the recycling bin.

If you a see an orange tag on your recycling bin, it means that you have been putting too many non-recyclable items (or including too much garbage) in your recycling bin; failure to re-sort and ensure that only the proper items are in the bin could lead to a fine.

Items not allowed in the recycling bin but that can be placed in your garbage containers include Kleenex, Styrofoam (and other to-go containers), LED lights, foam, ice cream containers, paper plates and cups, rope, incandescent and halogen light bulbs, toys, ink cartridges and spiral wound containers.

What you can recycle at a drop-off center in Milwaukee

There are many items that you cannot put in your recycling bin but that you can take to a drop-off center (some fees may apply for items such as tires, for example):

• Anti-freeze
• Appliances
• Batteries
• Auto batteries
• Car rotors
• Construction debris
• Cooking oil
• Electronics
• Small engine appliances (lawn mowers and snow blowers, for example)
• Grass clippings
• Motor oil and filters
• Pesticides
• Scrap metals
• Shingles with asphalt roofing
• TVs (up to three)
• Tires (up to five)
• Yard waste

Have special items that you're not sure what to do with? You can refer to the city's recycling directory.

The City of Milwaukee has guides in English and Spanish with information about what you can put in your recycling bin as well as information about its drop-off centers.

Where can I find recycling drop-off centers?

There are two in Milwaukee:

6660 N. Industrial Road, open Tuesday-Sunday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

3879 W. Lincoln Ave., open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

What to do with hazardous items

There are a number of items that might have contained hazardous chemicals. These items should not be put in your garbage can, which goes to a landfill, and they cannot be recycled. 

Items that may need to be taken to household hazardous waste sites include oil-based and latex paint, brake fluid, garage and auto cleaners and other toxic substances.

If you have fluorescent light bulbs or CFLs (which contain mercury), the city can take those at a hazardous waste site, although the preferred method is to call a hardware retailer in your area, such as ACE Hardware, Home Depot, Lowes and others, and see if they are accepting those bulbs. This also applies to LED lights.

Here is the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's (MMSD) website, https://www.mmsd.com/what-you-can-do/home-haz-mat-collection, with info about other items that can be picked up for household hazardous waste collection.

Where can I find household hazardous waste collection sites? 

Here are the addresses for year-round hazardous waste locations:

6060 S. 13th St., open Tuesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

3879 W. Lincoln Ave., open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

W124-N9451 Boundary Road in Menomonee Falls, open Monday and Wednesday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There are also hazardous waste and mobile collection sites throughout the year:

Nicolet High School, June 26, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Wauwatosa City Hall, Sept. 18, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

State Fair Park (near Gate 1), Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Oct. 23 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Visit the MMSD website for more information.

Contact Talis Shelbourne at (414) 403-6651 or tshelbourn@jrn.com. Follow her on Twitter at @talisseer and message her on Facebook at @talisseer.

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