The City of Milwaukee’s Self-Help Centers accept a variety of items for recycling that are not accepted in the curbside program.  If you have something not accepted at one of these centers, browse this page for ideas on how to reuse or recycle it. The below list is not all inclusive and companies or organizations listed are for informational purposes only. Listing does not confer an endorsement or recommendation of any company or organization from the City of Milwaukee.

Batteries, rechargeable - Find a battery recycler near you

Books - See the Yellow pages under "Book Dealers - Used"

Clothing and Home Furnishings - Check with your local Goodwill, Salvation Army, or St. Vincent DePaul stores for donation guidelines.

Electronics

American TV & Appliance stores accept TVs under 27”, desktop computers, printers, stereo receivers, tape players/recorders, speakers, DVD players, and VCRs.  They also accept small electronics such as cameras, camcorders, mobile or cordless phones, and mp3 players.  A $10 fee is charged for TVs larger than 27”, which is offset by a $10 gift certificate.  Visit www.americantv.com for more information.

Best Buy stores accept up to two electronic items, including TVs less than 32". There is a $10 fee for TVs, CRTs, monitors and laptops. The fee is offset by a $10 gift certificate.  Visit www.bestbuy.com for more information.

Midwest Computer Recyclers accept TVs, computers, and computer equipment and offer both pickup and drop off services.  Fees apply for TVs and pickup services.  Visit www.deadcomputers.com for more information.  

Waste Management Recycle America (WMRA) accepts consumer electronics such as TVs, computers, printers, cameras, camcorders, cell phones, cordless phones, PDAs, portable music and gaming devices, digital photo frames and readers, electronic accessories, GPS navigation units, recorders and microphones, small laptops, alarm clocks, small audio devices, and rechargeable batteries/packs.  Fees apply for all equipment except for SONY or LG products.  Drop your electronics off at WMRA, 2101 W Morgan Ave, Milwaukee WI, 53221.

Fats, Cooking Oil, Grease - Small amounts of fat, used cooking oil, or grease can be dropped off for free at Jensen Environmental in Muskego. Cooking oil will be refined into biodiesel fuel. Transport the cooking oil in pails, glass, or plastic jugs with lids to prevent spills. Maximum container size: 5 gallons (containers can be returned)

Large quantity generators can call Jensen Environmental for special arrangements.
Hours: 8am - 12pm, 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month.

Jensen Environmental Management
W144 S6347 College Court
Muskego, WI 53150
(414) 422-9169

Food, Non-perishable - Food donations can be made to local charities, food banks, and homeless shelters such as the Hunger Taskforce, America’s Second Harvest of Wisconsin, Hope House, and The Guest House. Additional organizations can be found by searching the yellow pages under "Food Bank" or a similar term.

Food Packaging
     www.terracycle.net - Send in cookie wrappers, drink pouches, yogurt containers, and more to be recycled into new products.

General      

Almost Anything Resale Shop - (414) 321-0226, 7621 W Beloit Rd, Milwaukee WI 53219.  Accepts almost anything!  NOT ACCEPTED: encyclopedias, tires, mattresses, used clothing or toys. 

www.Craigslist.org - Free to post an advertisement, sell a variety of items.

www.Freecycle.org - Free to join!

The Guest House: (414) 345-3240, 1216 North 13th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53205. Accepts a wide variety of household and food items.  To view the full list, visit www.guesthouseofmilwaukee.org.

Purple Heart Pickup Service: (414) 281-4281, 5380 S 13th St, Milwaukee, WI 53221.  Accepts clothing, shoes, toys, games, and other household items such as decorations, dishes, pots, pans, sheets, clothes, and furniture (as long as there are no repairs needed).  Call to schedule a pickup.  NOT ACCEPTED: appliances, waterbeds, metal desks or home improvement items. 

1-800-GOT-JUNK: Have almost anything removed, from old furniture and appliances to garden waste and renovation debris.  Loading and cleanup is provided.  Fees apply.  Call or visit www.1800gotjunk.com.

Holiday Lights - Send in your old incandescent Christmas lights. www.holidayLEDS.com will recycle them along with the box that you sent them in, and send you a coupon for 15% off anything on their website.

HolidayLEDs.com
Attn: Recycling Program
2500 W. Argyle St.
Jackson, MI 49202

Home Building & Renovation Materials

Community Warehouse - (414) 383-7792, 520 S 9th St., Milwaukee WI, 53204.  Accepts building and home improvement materials such as doors, windows, paint, sinks, bathtubs, flooring and cabinets.  ITEMS MUST BE NEW.  Donations are tax deductible.

Habitat for Humanity ReStore - (414) 257-9078, 801 S 60th St., West Allis, WI 53214.  Accepts good, reusable, or new appliances and building/home renovation materials.  Visit www.milwaukeerestore.org for a list of accepted items, and call ahead to make sure someone can assist with your donation. 

Home Source - (414) 344-4142, 3701 W Lisbon Ave, Milwaukee WI 53208.  Accepts building and home repair materials, such as: toilets, refrigerators, stoves, furnishings, tables, sofas.  No soft items, such as sheets, are accepted.  Call to confirm that your donation is acceptable.

IM Salvage Company - (414) 645-8733, 4025 W Loomis Rd, Milwaukee, WI 53221.  Accepts building materials such as doors, windows, sinks, hardware, etc.  No tax receipts are given for donations.

Inkjet Cartridges - Check with your local office supply and inkjet cartridge stores, or search at www.earth911.com.

Media

Half Price Books, Records, Magazines - A local option for selling used CDs and DVDs

• 8514 W Brown Deer Rd, Milwaukee
• 5032 S 74th St, Greenfield
• 16750 W Bluemound Rd, Brookfield

The Exclusive Co. (414) 271-8590 - A local option for selling your used CDs and DVDs

www.actrecycling.org - Video tapes, floppy disks, jewel cases

www.cdrecyclingcenter.com - CDs, DVDs, including packaging

www.secondspin.com - Sell your old CDs, DVDs, and games

• Learn about backyard composting.
• Purchase a compost bin from Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful.

Packing Peanuts - Many "pack and ship" businesses accept packing peanuts from the public for reuse. Check the Yellow Pages under "Packaging Service" or search www.earth911.com under "Packing Peanut Reuse."

Packing Pillows - Pillows marked "Fill-Air" can be deflated and mailed to:
Ameri-Pak Sealed Air Recycle Center
477 South Woods Dr
Fountain Inn SC 29644

Paper - Shredded and Shredding Services - Paper you shred at home can be placed in paper bags with the top rolled down or stapled and then into the recycling cart. For quantities too large to shred at home, see the Yellow pages under "Paper Shredding Service" or "Office Records Destruction" for companies that provide confidential shredding and recycling.

Plastic Grocery Bags - Return to certain retailers to recycle them: all Wal-Mart and Pick’n Save locations. For more information visit www.dnr.state.wi.us

Scrap Metal - Accepted at both City Self-Help Centers, or see "Scrap Metal" in the Yellow Pages for private metal recycling yards.

Sharps - needles, syringes, and lancets

Sports Equipment

www.playitagainsports.com - buys, sells, and trades used but good-condition sports gear

www.sportsgift.org - Provides sports equipment to underprivileged children around the world. Equipment may be mailed to:
Sports Gift
32545 B Golden Lantern #478
Dana Point CA 92629

www.Skichair.com - Send in your used skis to be recycled into Adirondack-style beach chairs.
Skichair.com
4 Abbott Place
Millbury MA 01527

Tyvek Envelopes - Mail in envelopes to be recycled (for large quantities of 200-500, call 866.338.9835 for a free pouch).

Tyvek Recycle
Attn: Shirley B. Wright
2400 Elliham Avenue #A
Richmond VA 23237

Wine Cork Recycling
Yemm & Hart Ltd.
610 South Chamber Dr
Fredericktown MO 63645