Solid Waste

Quick Tips:

Improve your recycling habits
A complete list of recyclable items for the City of Monona can be found here. Remember that certain items such as batteries and electronics must be disposed of properly.

Reduce plastic consumption whenever possible
Think about all the single-use plastic you use throughout a given day; it's probably a lot! Although it is difficult to completely rid your life of plastic, there are a lot of ways to cut it down. Where can, substitute single-use plastic objects for reusable ones. Check out some easy substitutions below.

Compost
Whether you make or purchase your composting system, it is a great way to reduce your household waste, re-mediate some contamination, and generate soils. A guide to composting can be found below, or, click here for more information.

Go digital with your mail
Switching your subscriptions and bills to online can save a lot of paper! Check to see if the companies and organizations you belong to have digital billing or subscription options.

Cut out Plastic!

Our world is filled with plastic - it's near impossible to escape. While plastic is extremely durable and useful, it is poses a massive threat to the environment for these same reasons. Plastic does not decompose or break down the same way other materials might, and thus poses a serious environmental threat to wildlife and ecosystems. Instead of breaking down, plastic breaks up - meaning, that instead of dissolving into soil or digested by animals, tiny particulates of plastic linger and don't break down.

As a consumer, you have the power to make more sustainable purchases and orient your spending away from single-use plastic!

Reusable Grocery Bags - canvas, cloth, or paper are all good options
Make Food from Scratch - this eliminates the need for any transportation packaging
Glass or Metal Straws - you can't chew on it, but you can cut plastic use!
Reusable Sandwich Bags - they're cleaner, safer, and reusable
Steer Clear from Bagged Foods - a lot of foods at the grocery store come bagged, which isn't necessary! Plenty of foods come without it
BYO Takeout Containers - many takeout boxes are styrofoam or plastic, so this is a great way to reduce that consumption
Use Natural Cleaning Cloths - eliminates chemicals and cuts out waste

Thrift Shop - buying things secondhand is a great way to reuse and recycle
Bar Soap - the plastic pump is unnecessary
Glass or Metal Water Bottles - one of the easiest ways to prevent plastic waste
Reuse Produce Bags - those little bags you put apples or broccoli in? Reuse them the next time you go shopping!
Glass Baby Bottles - little sleeves can be fitted over them so they don't break when dropped
Use Powdered Dishwasher Detergent - pods and other wrapped detergents have unnecessary packaging
Glass or Metal Kitchen Appliances - salad spinners, blenders, knives, and whisks can all be replaced with non-plastic options

Composting Guide

Composting is a process of decomposing organic materials to recycle the nutrients they hold into a rich soil fertilizer - compost! If you have a fruit or vegetable garden, or do any type of active landscaping in your yard, you have a reason to compost. This fertilizer is free, and extremely nutrient dense since none of it is chemically modified.

By diverting kitchen scraps away from the trash bin, you can cut your household waste by up to 30%!

Click here for more information on how to start your own compost pile.