Janesville, WI Trash & Recycling: Recycling Rules (2026)

Section 30-96 requires that recyclable materials separated under Section 30-94 be kept, to the greatest extent practicable, clean and free of contaminants such as food or product residue, oil or grease, or other non-recyclable materials, expressly including household hazardous waste, medical waste and agricultural chemical containers. Section 30-98 then bars anyone from disposing of, depositing or placing into, or burning at, any City landfill or other solid waste facility any of the materials listed in Section 30-94(5) through (15), which is the aluminum, bi-metal, corrugated paper, foam polystyrene, glass, magazine, newspaper, office paper, rigid plastic, steel container and waste tire categories, once those items have been separated for recycling.

The lone carve-out lets waste tires be burned with energy recovery at a licensed solid waste treatment facility in the manner permitted by law. The Director of Public Works enforces both sections under Section 30-99, with authority to inspect separated recyclables, disposal-bound waste, recycling collection sites, collection vehicles and related records without advance notice, and it is a separate violation for anyone to refuse, obstruct or delay that access. Article IV's penalty provision, Section 30-100, applies to a breach of either section: a forfeiture of $100.00 to $1,000.00 plus costs of prosecution, commitment to the county jail for up to 90 days on default, and each day of continuing violation treated as its own offense, on top of any equitable or injunctive relief the City pursues.