Recycle Better

media release: The Recycle Better Class Returns for 2026

The City of Madison Streets Division has partnered again with Sustain Dane to offer the Recycle Better class.

The first class begins on May 6, 2026(external).

By taking the recycling workshop, you can help your friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers learn the right way to recycle more.

Why take the Recycle Better class?

The class will teach you why it's important to recycle right, and it will give you the knowledge and confidence to help your community recycle better, too.  

After finishing the workshop, you can become a Certified Recycling Steward so you can share useful recycling knowledge with those in your social circles.

Over 1,400 people have taken this course since 2021(external) and the outreach projects have reached over 100,000 people. 

Class Details

There are two chances to take the online Recycle Better course(external) in 2026.

Each online course has two 90-minute sessions.  One course runs in the afternoon and one later in the summer runs in the evening.

For the afternoon course(external), the first session is May 6, 2026 and it is from 12:00pm to 1:30pm with its concluding session on May 13 from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. 

For the evening course(external), the first session will be on July 23, 2026 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm with its concluding session on July 30 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm.

More details can be found on the Sustain Dane registration webpage(external), or the Streets Division's website. 

Sustain Dane charges a small tuition ($15) to attend.  If cost is a burden, please contact Sam Wordette at Sustain Dane to ask about having the tuition waived.

Why does recycling right and the Recycling Better course matter?

We have seen fires here in Madison from things into the recycling cart that do not belong.

When you place things into the recycling cart that do not belong, it raises the costs of the Resource Recovery Special Charge because the trash needs to be removed from the good recyclables. 

And, the wrong items can even be dangerous to the people who work at the facilities, too.

Why is recycling confusing?

The stuff in our lives is always changing.  And recycling rules are not the same everywhere you go. 

This can make recycling confusing, especially for people who move to new states.

And since there are no set guidelines around the country, internet search engines, AI chatbots, and social media posts may not always give you correct local information for Madison.   

The good news is that Wisconsin has strong and specific recycling mandates(opens in a new window)(external)PDF.  And here in Madison, we have many extra recycling opportunities, too - you just need to follow the guidelines. 

How to help

People like you can take the Recycle Better course to help your neighbors, co-workers, fellow congregants, and members of your online communities reach local recycling information.  

This will help spread correct local recycling guidelines so more Madisonians learn the right thing to do with the waste we all generate daily.  

Free Recycling Resources

City of Madison recycling information is free and readily available.

You can learn what you can put in the recycling cart at your home by visiting the Streets Division's recycling website.

There are many other free resources are available, too.  There are magnets, paper guides, and even vinyl stickers all available to help you recycle the right way at your home.  They are available for free by contacting the Streets Division.   

Free copies of the Recyclopedia booklet are available at your Madison Public Library and the Streets Division offices.

Additional Information

For more information about the City of Madison Streets Division's recycling program, please visit our website. 

For more information about Sustain Dane and the classes and services they provide, visit their page(external).