America Recycles Day

Today is America Recycles Day. Each year on November 15, millions of Americans come together to spread the word on how recycling helps us reduce waste, save energy, and conserve precious resources. It is sponsored by Keep America Beautiful. From plastic bottles and aluminum cans to paper and electronics, recycling helps keep tons of materials out of landfills, saves natural resources, and reduces pollution.

In honor of the day the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the winners of the 2024 Wisconsin Recycling Excellence Awards. Wisconsin’s recycling law bans certain materials from the trash and establishes a statewide recycling program. This year, the DNR recognizes 13 organizations for going beyond what is required by law.

In addition to landfill-banned items, which include curbside recyclables and electronics, the winners diverted many tons of food waste, furniture, plastic film and household hazardous waste for reuse or recycling. This year’s winners include:

In the Projects and Initiatives Category, the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The campus wanted to reduce waste material generated by students moving out of college dorms. To do so, the college partnered with the Greater La Crosse Region Habitat for Humanity. Together, they initiated a dumpster diversion program that was marketed to any student moving out, both on and off campus. The diversion program aimed to collect furniture in strategically placed pod containers on campus. Any collected material would be either donated to local charities or resold at the local ReStore. At the end of the 2023-2024 school year, the program was able to divert over eight tons of household furniture from the landfill.

In the Overall Program Category, Vernon County’s Solid Waste and Recycling Department operates a source-separated recycling program that accepts traditional recyclables, appliances, electronics, tires, light bulbs, mattresses, waste oils, antifreeze, oil filters and batteries. In 2024, the county began to accept styrofoam for recycling through a partnership with La Crosse County, 7 Rivers Recycling and Hilltopper Refuse. The material is processed through a densifying machine that removes the air and melts the material at high temperatures. The finished product is sold and turned into picture framing, window trim, crown molding and other products. The county also recently partnered with Dummer Farm to implement an organics drop-off program for food waste, yard waste and other compostable material. Additional initiatives include collecting untreated wood and pallets, textiles, electronics and appliances, including uncommon items like vacuum cleaners, fans, and clocks, and working with the Vernon County Fair to promote and improve recycling.

Whether at home, school, or work, we can all pitch in to recycle more and waste less.