The Wisconsin recycling law bans the landfilling or incineration of certain recyclable or compostable materials. These bans went into effect in several stages. Two new bans have been signed into law and will take effect in 2010 and 2011. Note that some local ordinances may require additional materials to be recycled.

Materials Currently Banned from Disposal in Wisconsin

Banned in 1995

• Aluminum containers
• Bi-metal containers (containers made from a combination of steel and aluminum)
• Corrugated cardboard or other containerboard
• Foam polystyrene packaging, either designed for serving food or beverages, loose particles intended for packing (peanuts), or rigid materials shaped to hold and cushion a packaged article*
• Glass containers
• Magazines and other materials printed on similar paper
• Newspaper and other materials printed on newsprint
• Office paper
• Plastic containers #1 and #2
• Plastic containers #3 through #7*
• Steel containers
• Waste tires (except when incinerated with energy recovery)

Additional Banned Materials

• Lead acid batteries
• Major appliances including air conditioners, clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, stoves, ovens, dehumidifiers,furnaces, boilers, water heaters and microwave ovens (unless the capacitor has been removed)
• Waste oils, except when incinerated with energy recovery
• Yard waste, including grass clippings, leaves, yard and garden debris and brush under 6 inches in diameter**

* Currently DNR allows plastic containers #3 through #7 and foam polystyrene packaging to be landfilled or incinerated. If at some future time, the DNR determines that adequate markets for these plastics exist, they will be banned from disposal.

** Yard waste may go to an approved compost facility or be incinerated with energy recovery. Brush may be burned at licensed woodburning facilities if reasonable alternatives are not available.

New Disposal Bans

• Beginning September 1, 2010, devices covered under 2009 Act 50, Wisconsin's electronics recycling law, including computers, televisions, desktop printers, computer peripherals, DVD players, digital video recorders, VCRs, fax machines and phones with video displays (cell phones) are banned from Wisconsin landfills and incinerators For more information, see E-Cycle Wisconsin covered devices.
• Beginning January 1, 2011, oil absorbent materials over one gallon and used oil filters will be banned from Wisconsin landfills. For more information, see Motor Oil, Oil Filters and Other Automotive Products.

Exceptions for Responsible Units (RUs)
The 1995 bans do not apply to residuals of the banned material being collected, treated and disposed of by a responsible unit (RU) with an effective recycling program. Even a good recycling program will not capture 100 percent of all potential recyclables, and some materials are unable to be recycled through use or contamination. Examples include plastic jugs used for waste oil collection or newspaper used for cleaning. There are also exceptions for emergencies, unintentionally contaminated materials, the approved beneficial reuse of a material within a landfill, and certain plastics if recycling is not feasible.

RUs in two grandfathered waste-to-energy (WTE) incinerator areas (La Crosse and Barron counties) are allowed to send recyclable paper (including newspaper, magazines and cardboard) and plastics to WTE incinerators, although local ordinances in those areas may require paper and plastic items to be recycled.