The Weirdest Things That Can Be Recycled (and Where)

A local guide for Madison, Wisconsin and Dane County

When most people think of recycling, they picture cardboard boxes, plastic bottles, and aluminum cans.

But in Dane County, the recycling system goes way beyond that.

In fact, there are some surprisingly unusual items that can be recycled, repurposed, or reused locallyas long as you know where to take them.

1. Old Bicycles (Yes, Even Broken Ones)

Most people assume a broken bike is trash. In Dane County, it can actually get a second life.

Through the county’s Bicycle Exchange Program, bikes that are dropped off are either repaired and reused or stripped down for parts.

Where it goes:

• Drop-off at the Dane County Landfill site

• Repaired bikes are redistributed back into the community

2. Asphalt Shingles (From Your Roof)

After a roofing project, it’s easy to assume all that debris heads straight to the landfill.

But clean asphalt shingles can actually be recycled and reused in paving materials.

Where it goes:

• Accepted at the Dane County landfill recycling area

• Processed and reused in road construction

3. Wood, Logs, and Brush

Tree branches, logs, and untreated wood don’t just get buried.

They’re turned into:

• Mulch

• Wood chips

• Animal bedding

Dane County specifically collects clean wood materials for this purpose.

Where it goes:

• Brush and wood drop-off areas

• Processed into usable landscaping materials

4. Food Scraps (Not Just Yard Waste)

Food waste recycling has expanded significantly in the Madison area.

Instead of going to a landfill, food scraps can be composted and turned into nutrient-rich soil products.

Where it goes:

• Composting programs (including local drop-off sites)

• Converted into compost for agriculture and landscaping

5. Tires

Tires are banned from landfills in Wisconsin—and for good reason.

They can be shredded and reused in:

• Road construction

• Playground surfaces

• Fuel alternatives

Dane County offers dedicated tire recycling options.

Where it goes:

• Tire recycling programs at the landfill

• Repurposed into industrial or construction materials

6. Construction Materials (Concrete, Brick, Metal)

Demolition waste might seem like pure junk, but much of it is recyclable.

Materials like:

• Concrete

• Brick

• Metal

• Clean wood

are sorted and reused through Dane County’s construction recycling facility.

Where it goes:

• Local sorting facilities

• Reused in future construction projects

7. “Still-Useful” Household Items

One of the more overlooked systems in Dane County is reuse—not just recycling.

Programs like the Product Exchange at Clean Sweep allow usable items (like certain chemicals or supplies) to be picked up and reused instead of disposed of.

Where it goes:

• Reuse programs instead of disposal

• Given to others who can use them

8. Scrap Metal (Even Random Household Items)

Items like:

• Old grills

• Exercise equipment

• Metal furniture

• Tools

can all be recycled as scrap metal instead of thrown away.

Metal is one of the easiest materials to recycle and is almost always repurposed into new products.

Where it goes:

• Scrap metal recycling facilities

• Melted down and reused in manufacturing

9. Items You’d Never Think Twice About

Here are a few more surprising examples that are often recyclable locally (depending on condition and location):

• Mattresses (in some programs or facilities)

• Appliances (after proper processing)

• Electronics components and cables

• Even certain types of packaging like cartons (milk, soup, etc.) are accepted in Madison recycling carts

Why This Matters More Than People Think

In Dane County, a significant portion of what ends up in the landfill could have been recycled or reused instead.

That’s why the system is designed to:

• Divert as much material as possible

• Extend the life of the landfill

• Recover value from everyday items

The Bigger Takeaway

Recycling in the Madison area isn’t just about bottles and cans—it’s about recognizing that a lot of “junk” still has value.

From bicycles to roofing materials to food scraps, there are entire systems in place to reuse, repurpose, or rebuild what would otherwise be thrown away.

And in many cases, the difference between trash and recycling comes down to one simple thing:

Knowing where it actually goes.