City of Madison releases 2017 Recyclopedia

Green recycling bins line up behind Madison homes. Get the details on proper use in Madison Streets Division’s Recyclopedia. (Photo: Lauren Ann Sklba)

At the end of March, the Streets Division of Madison released the 2017 Recyclopedia.

This document is the Madisonian’s guide to responsible waste management, addressing everything from general recycling questions to season-specific situations.

As Madison continues to make decisions to be a more environmentally friendly city, the Recyclopedia specifically mentions an organics collection program. This “Community Organic Recycling Effort,” which the Streets Division has been developing since 2011, would help to recycle food waste. 

Currently, Madison recycles 60 percent of its waste. However, food waste is still the biggest category of waste not being recycled. 

Food waste includes “bones, vegetables peelings, spoiled leftovers, and grease, but also stained paper products like paper towels, paper plates, napkins and greasy pizza boxes,” according to the Recyclopedia.

With the organics collection program, the city would be able to change this waste into compost or even electricity or fuel, recycling 20,000 of the 50,000 tons of material that ends up in landfills annually.

While this program is not yet operating, the Recyclopedia provides community members with the ability to receive updates about this program and resources to get involved with committees related to waste and environmental issues.

Bookended with alternative program contact information and specific item recycling instructions, the Recyclopedia contains everything you could to contribute to a cleaner, greener Madison.