Recycling Rules, Costs and Best Practices

REUSE AREA (subject to applicable disposal fee):

Occasionally, Town residents may have a gently used item that may be useful for someone else. We highly encourage residents to take such items to charitable organizations such as Goodwill, Agrace Thrift Store, Salvation Army, or St. Vincent DePaul since there may be tax benefits in making such donations. If this is not possible, we have a Reuse Area for such items to help prevent them from being landfilled. Please check with an attendant before placing an item in this area to see if it has a reasonable expectation of being reused. Any item placed in the Reuse Area is still subject to any applicable disposal fees since we find many of these items are not reused and are ultimately put into a trash bin. We do NOT accept used bedding, upholstered furniture or cloth items in this unsheltered Reuse Area. Fully functional appliances should also NOT be placed in the Reuse Area. Items left in this area are NOT eligible for tax deductions and no receipts will be given.

RECYCLABLE ITEMS accepted at NO CHARGE:

In an effort to encourage responsible recycling, the Town of Brooklyn collects the recyclable materials listed below at no cost to residents. All recyclables, regardless of material type, are collected in bins that are labeled “Recyclables Only”. Our recycler, Pellittieri, uses their personnel and equipment to sort material types at their plant. All items should be loose and empty. Do not place smaller items inside of larger ones.

Paper & Cardboard: This includes newspaper, catalogs, magazines, paperback books, hard cover books (if hard cover removed), phone books, computer and office paper, envelopes and junk mail, paper grocery bags, note books, gift wrapping paper (no foils), pizza boxes (if no food or grease), rinsed milk or juice cartons, paper cups, and cereal and cracker type boxes.

• Boxes should be flattened to save space.
• Do not bundle paper with twine or tape as this causes problems with the recycling equipment.
• Shredded paper is to be placed in a clear plastic bag (no larger than a basketball) and tied shut.
• Paper shipping envelopes (that you receive items in) can be checked for recyclability by tearing them. If they can be torn they are recyclable. If they are lined with bubble wrap or plastic, trash them

Cans: Includes rinsed tin/steel cans, and empty aerosol cans. Cans or steel pails containing liquid paint or other liquid products will not be accepted.

• Cans or pails containing latex paint are to be dried out, and then placed in the trash bin.
• For disposal of cans containing oil or lead based paints in liquid form, see the guidance under “Items not accepted” below.
• It is best not to completely flatten cans as recycling equipment can pick round cans up easier.
• A best practice for can lids would be to place them inside the can, and then crimp the end of the can.
• Metal bottle caps should also be placed in a metal can.
• Aluminum cans are recycled separately using labeled containers next to the recycle bins. We do this because there is more overall value by bringing them to a scrap dealer for compensation. If you know a can is made of aluminum, we appreciate your assistance in placing these in the separate container provided.

Glass: This includes bottles and jars.

• Bottles and jars should be emptied and rinsed.
• Jar lids should be separated from the jar, but still included in recycle. Metal lids and metal bottle caps should be put inside steel/tin cans, and then crimp the end of the can.
• Light bulbs (lamps) are not to be placed in recycle bins, but rather be given to an attendant (see below).
• Ceramics, glassware, baking dishes, mirrors and window glass from construction or vehicles are NOT recyclable and need to be placed in the trash bins.

Plastics: Clean/rinsed and empty plastic containers having a recycle emblem with numbers 1-7 are recyclable, EXCEPT for motor oil, gas, chemical, or solvent containers.

• If possible, plastic bottles are to be crushed, and keeping the caps on is a best practice. Keep the lids on plastic tubs as well.
• Items without a recycle emblem, having a recycle emblem without a number, or plastics marked #8 are NOT recyclable and are to be disposed of as part of your trash.
• Plastic bags are accepted only as trash so they must be separated from other recyclables. Most retailers and grocers have recycling bins for plastic bags near their entrances or exits, and the Wisconsin DNR encourages you to take your plastic bags to those stores as part of your shopping routine. (Hy-Vee, Festival Foods, and Pic-n-Save accept the largest variety of recyclable plastics. Here’s a link to what can be put in their bins: https://nextrex.com/view/educate”. )
• Plastic lids used on coffee and fast food drink cups are to be placed in the trash as they are too flat and small to be sorted by our recycler’s equipment.
• Plastic credit, debit or gift cards items are to be cut up and treated as trash.
• Plastic cutlery is to be treated as trash.

OTHER recyclable items collected separately by our attendants at NO CHARGE:

Aluminum: As mentioned above, the Town of Brooklyn asks you to voluntarily place aluminum cans in a separate container provided near our recycling bins as it provides more overall value by bringing them to a scrap dealer.

• We will accept aluminum pie plates and foil in recycle bins only if free of food.
• If you have large aluminum items, such as bike frames or motor components, check with an attendant to see if we can include them in our aluminum program.

Light bulbs: This includes incandescent, florescent, LED, compact florescent and other light bulbs.

• These should not be included in trash since broken lamps pose mercury environmental hazards and must be treated with care.
• Bulbs should be given to an attendant as we have storage bins made for shipping them safely to our recycler.

Scrap Metal: Smaller pieces of scrap metal, pots & pans, toasters, blenders, and plumbing fixtures are accepted at no charge and can be disposed of in the large dumpster labeled “Metals” at the northeast corner of our site.

Batteries: In order to save the Town of Brooklyn from incurring extra charges, we separate alkaline batteries from other battery types containing more hazardous components such as Lithium (Li), Cadmium (Ca), Lead (Pb). Those types can usually be identified by information on the sides of the batteries.

• We also accept ‘button’ batteries like the kinds used in watches and other devices. Button or watch batteries are a fire hazard and should not be put in garbage bins at your home or at our site. When recycling a large quantity of button batteries, it is best to stick them on a strip of electrical tape.
• We will accept mixed batteries but separating them saves us time and is appreciated.
• Please give batteries to an attendant and let them know if they’ve already been separated.
• We accept lead, wet cell, and vehicle batteries which are also taken by retailers of such product. Electrical tape should be put on the posts of car batteries in order to prevent accidental discharge.

Used Oil Filters: Do-it-yourselfers can bring their uncrushed used oil filters to our attendants who will store these in steel barrels for delivery to our recycler.

Antifreeze: Contact an attendant who will guide you where to place the product

Egg Cartons: Being a rural community, we have a unique demand for clean egg cartons which are reused by local growers. See an attendant to either drop off or pick up egg cartons.