Madison was the first city in the nation to offer curbside recycling service. But fifty-five years of celebrating recycling’s virtues has driven us to optimism. We wishfully toss things in the cart and hope for the best. Friends, we are here to tell you that is NOT how this works. In fact, your good deeds are messing things up - gumming up machines and putting workers in harm’s way.

Can you recycle plastic bags? Nope. Those little tabs from your bread bags? Nope. Bottle caps? Nope. And please, for the love of Gaylord Nelson, no shower curtains.

So what’s a Madisonian to do? Bryan Johnson, Madison’s Recycling Coordinator, is here to help sort it all out.

🌎 Ready to become a recycling evangelist? Check out Madison’s Master Recycler Program. 

♻️ Learn what can be recycled in Madison and in nearby communities. 

Other Earth Day (and week) events:

🌱 UW-Madison Earth Week

🔌 Oregon Earth Day Festival

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