Sun Prairie, WI Trash & Recycling: Recycling Requirements (2026)
Key Facts
- Materials covered
- 15 categories, incl. glass, paper, batteries
- Applies to
- residential and nonresidential alike
- Disposal ban
- separated items can't go to landfill
- Multi-family duty
- notify tenants at least semiannually
- First offense fine
- $5 to $500
- Repeat offense fine
- up to $1,000
Summary
Sun Prairie requires every single-family home, duplex, four-unit building, multi-family property and nonresidential facility to separate fifteen categories of recyclables from the trash under Code § 8.20.180, including lead-acid batteries, yard waste, glass, paper, steel and rigid plastic containers.
Occupants of single-family and two-unit to four-unit residences, multiple-family dwellings and nonresidential facilities and properties shall separate the following materials from post-consumer waste: A.Separate Post-Consumer Waste.1.Lead acid batteries;2.Major appliances;3.Waste oil;4.Yard waste;5.Aluminum containers;6.Bi-metal containers;7.Corrugated paper or other container board;8.Foam polystyrene packaging;9.Glass containers;10.Magazines;11.Newspaper;12.Office paper;13.Rigid plastic containers made of PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and other resins or multiple-resins;14.Steel containers;15.Waste tires.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 71).
Full Breakdown
180 lists exactly what must be pulled out of post-consumer waste: lead acid batteries, major appliances, waste oil, yard waste, aluminum containers, bi-metal containers, corrugated paper or other container board, foam polystyrene packaging, glass containers, magazines, newspaper, office paper, rigid plastic containers made of PETE, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS or other resins, steel containers, and waste tires. 190 carves out narrow exemptions from that separation duty, for waste sent to a DNR-licensed processing facility that recovers the same materials, for solid waste burned as supplemental fuel providing less than 30 percent of a facility's heat input, and for materials granted a variance by the DNR.
200 requires separated recyclables to be kept clean and free of contaminants like food residue, oil, grease or hazardous waste. 210 spells out preparation rules item by item, for example aluminum and steel containers must be empty and clean, cardboard must be dry and flattened, and PETE or HDPE bottles must have caps and neck rings removed before going into the co-mingled recycling cart. 250 to notify tenants of the program at least semiannually.
Violations & Fines
Failing to separate the required recyclables, or disposing of separated recyclables in the trash in violation of § 8.20.260, is enforced through the city's general forfeiture in § 1.24.010, not less than $5 nor more than $500 for a first offense and up to $1,000 for a repeat offense within a year, and can also trigger a special collection charge of $25 to $50 under § 8.20.120 for a documented storage or separation violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials must be recycled in Sun Prairie?
Is recycling mandatory for businesses too, or just homes?
Can I just throw a glass jar in the regular trash?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sun Prairie
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Recycling Requirements in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle recycling requirements.