The average Wisconsin resident generates nearly 5 pounds of trash every day, but recycles less than 2 pounds of that trash, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

A survey conducted by the department looked at the top barriers to recycling in the state, with 39% of respondents saying it’s easier to throw recyclables in the trash, 35% saying they sometimes forget to recycle and 28% saying they’re not always sure which materials are recyclable.

Here’s a guide to what you can and can’t recycle in Wisconsin, and what to do with certain items that can be recycled – just not at home.

What can you recycle at home in Wisconsin?

Many household recyclable materials can simply be placed in your personal recycling bin. If you’re ever unsure, contact your local waste handler or refer to the state Department of Natural Resources guide.

Here are some of the most common household recyclable materials:

• Aluminum containers 
• Combination metal containers (steel and aluminum) 
• Flattened corrugated cardboard or other container cardboard  
• Glass containers, bottles 
• Magazines or similar paper products 
• Newspapers and materials printed on newsprint 
• Office paper 
• Plastic containers labeled as plastics #1 and #2 – milk jugs, laundry detergent bottles, soda and water bottles, etc. 
• Steel containers 

What recyclable materials need a special drop-off in Wisconsin 

There are other household items that are technically recyclable, but should not be thrown in your home recycling bin. Specific drop-off facilities for such items are available across the state.

On sale now

• The Strokes: June 15, Pine Knob Music Theatre, Independence Twp. with Thundercat and Hamilton Leithauser, ticket prices vary.

• Jack White: July 25, Pine Knob Music Theatre, ticket prices vary.

• Hanson: Aug. 13, Sound Board at MotorCity Casino, ticket prices vary.

• The Beach Boys: Aug. 15, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre, Rochester Hills, ticket prices vary.

On sale 10 a.m. April 24

• Comedian Jim Gaffigan: Sept. 18, Fox Theatre, Detroit, ticket prices vary.

• Teddy Swims: Sept. 29, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, ticket prices vary.

• Beck: Oct. 12, Fox Theatre, Detroit, ticket prices vary.

• Leanne Morgan: second show added, Oct. 15, Fox Theatre, Detroit, (limited number of tickets are still available for the previously announced Oct. 16 show), ticket prices vary.

On sale noon, April 24

• Melanie Martinez: July 18, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, ticket prices vary.

On sale noon, April 27

• Usher Raymond and Chris Brown: July 2-3 Ford Field, Detroit, ticket prices vary.

Note: Events are subject to change; check with venues for updates. Tickets on sale at 313Presents.com, LiveNation.com, Ticketmaster.com or the XFINITY Box Office at Little Caesars Arena.

Beats

• Corktown Music Festival: April 23-25, Lager House, 1254 Michigan Ave., Detroit, https://thelagerhouse.com, ticket prices vary.

• Tyler Rich, James Barker Band: April 24, District 142, 142 Maple St., Wyandotte,  with Ryan Jay, https://district142live.com, $28.40+.

• One Ton Trolley: 6:30 p.m. April 24, Pontiac Little Art Theatre, 47 N. Saginaw St., Pontiac, www.theplat.org, $15+ adv.

• Lost Signals: April 24, Magic Bag, 22920 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, www.themagicbag.com, 18+, doors at 8 p.m., $12.82-$17.70+.

• Jeremy Facknitz and Audra Kubat: 7:30 p.m. April 24, Trinity House Theatre, 38840 W. Six Mile, Livonia, www.trinityhousetheatre.org, $25+.

• House of Heavy: April 24, The Loving Touch, 22634 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, doors at 7 p.m., all ages, https://thelovingtouchferndale.com, 248-820-5596, $22.12-$26.49.

• Jay Electronica: 7 p.m. April 25, The Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac, https://thecrofoot.com, ages 18+, ticket prices vary.

• Dark Tranquillity + Soen: April 25, Saint Andrew’s Hall, 431 E Congress St., Detroit, www.saintandrewsdetroit.com, doors at 6 p.m., ticket prices vary.

• Live & Let Die – Paul McCartney Music tribute: April 25, Andiamo Celebrity Showroom, 7096 E. 14 Mile Road, Warren, andiamoshowroom.com, 586-268-3200, doors at 7 p.m., show at 8 p.m., $35-$65+.

• Sunset Blvd.: 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. April 25, The Roxy, 401 Walnut Blvd., Rochester, ages 21+, 248-453-5285, www.theroxyrochester.com, ticket prices vary.

• Bring the Noise Volume 9: April 25, Diesel Concert Lounge 33151 23 Mile Road, Chesterfield, doors at 7 p.m., www.dieselconcerts.com, $10+ cover.

• Annual Handbell Festival: 3 p.m. April 25, First United Methodist Church, 6363 Livernois Road, Troy, https://tuesdaymusicaleofgreaterpontiac.org.

• Ari Hest: 8 p.m. April 25, at 20 Front Street, Lake Orion, 248-783-7105, www.20frontstreet.com, all ages, $29.95+.

• Kenny Wayne Shepherd: April 26, Music Hall, 350 Madison St., Detroit, with Shirley Murdock and Keith Washington, 313-887-8500, www.musichall.org, ticket prices vary.

• Hail The Sun: 6 p.m. April 26, The Crofoot Ballroom, 1 S. Saginaw St., Pontiac, https://thecrofoot.com, all ages, ticket prices vary.

• Slomosa: 7 p.m. April 26, El Club, 4114 Vernor Hwy, Detroit, https://elclubdetroit.com, $34.77.

• Musical Gems of Springtime Concert: 4-6 p.m. April 26, St. John Lutheran Church, 23225 Gill Road, Farmington Hills, www.stjohn-elca.org, free.

• The Randy Crawford Tribute: 7:30 p.m. April 27, at Aretha’s Jazz Cafe, 350 Madison Detroit, https://jazzcafedetroit.com, $39.19+.

• They Might Be Giants: April 28-29, Majestic Theatre, 4140 Woodward Ave., Detroit, www.majesticdetroit.com, doors at 7 p.m., ages 16+, ticket prices vary.

• Demi Lovato: 8 p.m. April 29, Little Caesars Arena, Detroit,  with Adéla, 313presents.com, ticket prices vary.

• A physical altercation between the Milwaukee Wave and San Diego Sockers marred the end of Game 1 of the MASL championship series.
• A Sockers player was issued a red card for violent conduct after the game and will be suspended for Game 2.
• The San Diego Sockers defeated the Milwaukee Wave 5-4 in the first game of the series.

Shoves escalated between the Milwaukee Wave and San Diego Sockers and fans got involved in the unpleasantries, turning the conclusion of Game 1 of the MASL championship series ugly.

In the final seconds of the Sockers’ 5-4 victory April 22 at the UWM Panther Arena, Wave defender Tony Walls took a kick to the groin on a play that ended any chance for a traditional exchange of handshakes and hugs.

Spirited jawing turned into jostling between players, and then fans joined in the altercation by pelting Sockers players with debris and drinks. Players retaliated. As the situation grew more chaotic, a security officer requested the presence of police who were at the Arena.

Game 1 box score: Sockers 5, Wave 4

At the same time, officials were reviewing the play. Several minutes after the game the announcement came that Sockers defender Cesar Cerda had been issued a red card for violent conduct, making him ineligible for Game 2 on April 24 in Oceanside, California.

“It just got heated at the end [between] two high-level teams,” veteran Wave forward Ian Bennett said. “They’re very competitive, and who wants to win it? The rest, it was a hard game to ref, right? Because it’s a big game. It’s big final. Emotions are there.

“To be honest, our emotions got the best of us, because we’ve got to be smarter than that, right? We don’t need to play in their hands, but kudos to them, they won, and we just got to regroup and lick our wounds and come back on Friday ready to go.”

A loud and larger-than-usual crowd turned out for the final home game of 2025-26.

Two quick goals by Bennett early in the fourth quarter pulled the Wave within a goal at 4-3, but Milwaukee couldn’t maintain the spark, and Sockers midfielder Leonardo De Oliveira turned the momentum back around with 5 ½ minutes left. The Wave killed a two-minute San Diego power play resulting from too many men on the field, but by the time goalkeeper Jerry Perez gave the Wave another goal, just 33 seconds remained.