Inside look at recycling center shows many people are recycling wrong

WISN 12 News compiled a list explaining what you can and cannot recycle, and why it's important to know the difference

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WISN 12 News compiled a list explaining what you can and cannot recycle, and why it's important to know the difference

Have you ever wondered, 'Can I recycle this?' WISN 12 News looked into how many people are making the same mistakes when it comes to their recyclables and found out, many people don't know what they're doing.

To get an inside look at how the process works and why it's important to do properly, WISN 12 News got an inside look at the John's Disposal facility in Norway, where workers process 500 tons of recyclables a day.

It's challenging and important work.

Each of the items must go through a series of sorting machines and employee stations before getting packed up and sent to a facility where they're re-manufactured into something new.

Often times, the items that aren't recyclable must be pulled from fast-moving conveyer belts, before reaching the sorting machines. Our crew watched employees pull out scrap metal, toys, shoes, food waste, and plastic bags from the conveyer belts.

"This is why we really don't like plastic bags, because they get wrapped around the spinning wheels," said Dan Jongetjes, the general manager at the Norway John's Disposal facility. "(Our employees) will go up in (the machine) and they've got to cut it out with box cutter knives and stuff every day."

The recycled items that are accepted are eventually turned into bales that weigh 1,00 to 1,500 pounds. In one part of the facility, the bales are made of mixed paper that are then sent to a facility in Green Bay where they're remanufactured into things like paper napkins, and toilet paper

Jongetjes said nearly 20% of the items that arrive at their facility are not recyclable and end up in a landfill.

Each community pays a premium to recycle. In Milwaukee, the city recycles more than 50 million pounds of items a year. So it's important to know what's accepted and what isn't.

"We also have some people who are wishful cyclers. So they think, 'It's a garden hose, it's rubber, I'm throwing it in there and hope for the best,'" Jongetjes said. "There's some education that needs to happen, because it's resulting in some garbage."

One group of volunteers from Elm Grove is working to address the issue of excess waste, as well as recyclables.

In order to do that, the Elm Grove Sustainability Committee took extreme measures to see what exactly their neighbors were throwing away, what could be recycled, and what could be re-used or donated. Back in April, the group held a trash audit at the John's facility, digging through 1,300 pounds of trash from their neighborhood.

"We are hoping we can educate our community on what truly is recyclable," said Molly Salinas, co-chair of the Elm Grove sustainability committee.

During the audit, the group found about 20% of the items in the trash were actually recyclable.

Salinas said before holding the trash audit, their group toured the John's recycling facility and were shocked to see what people were throwing into their bins.

"When we were here that day, someone put CPR dummies in, furniture, Christmas lights," Salinas said. "Lots of shoes. People think shoes are recyclable, sometimes."

"I think probably a lot of it is people meaning well and hoping things are recyclable, thinking, 'I'll just try, right?' But it screws up the whole system," Salinas said.

So, what are the rules? It can be different in different communities.

We compiled a list of some key takeaways. First, always break down cardboard boxes. Do not leave any packaging inside.

Throw away takeout containers or anything drenched in food, the recycling centers can't use it.

Do not include anything that can tangle, like string lights, hoses, or plastic bags of any kind.

Paper towels, tissues, most paper plates and cups should also be left out. Anything that can be used again, like clothing, textiles, and household goods, you should donate, but do not drop in the recycle bin.

For everything else, the links below will show you what you can and cannot recycle in area communities.

In Milwaukee, people can tour the recycling facility on certain days of the month.

Waukesha's recycling guide is the same as Milwaukee's.

West Allis recycling guide

Wauwatosa recycling guide

Glendale recycling guide

Brown Deer recycling guide

Oak Creek recycling guide

Racine recycling guide

Kenosha recycling guide

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