Betterbin app provides users with detailed recycling instructions for Outagamie, Winnebago and Brown counties
Reader question: Being new to the area, I've figured out curbside recycling for paper, cans and glass bottles and jars, but I'm still unclear what plastics can be recycled. Can you explain it?
Answer: Residents in Outagamie, Winnebago and Brown counties all follow the same rules for curbside recycling because the materials are processed together at the Tri-County Recycling Facility in Little Chute.
Nos. 1 and 2 plastic containers have been banned from landfills since 1990 and have always been part of the recycling stream in the three counties. More recently, though, the recycling facility began accepting Nos. 3-7 plastics as well.
That might lead you to think all types of plastics, Nos. 1-7, are recyclable through the curbside pickup, until you learn the facility doesn't want any plastic cups, lids and straws; plastic plant pots; plastic bags; plastic air pillows; plastic wrap; or rigid plastics like cat litter buckets, laundry baskets and lawn furniture.
The reasons have to do with market demand, processing equipment and simplifying the message to the public to prevent the contamination of materials.
"It's easier just to go generic and say yes or no to a large class of things rather than to get picky and choosy," said Alex Nett, Outagamie County's recycling and resource recovery administrator.
Fortunately, there's a new smartphone app called Betterbin to sort through the confusion. The app scans a product's barcode to reveal instructions of whether and how it can be recycled.
Betterbin is available for free from the Apple and Google Play app stores. It requires setting up an account (email and password) and selecting your county of residence. It also features a rewards program.
"As people scan things, they earn points, which can be redeemed for gift cards or donations to organizations like The Nature Conservancy," Nett said.
Watchdog Q&A: Duke Behnke answers your local government questions
About 2,500 people in Outagamie, Winnebago and Brown counties have downloaded the app since it became available on Sept. 19.
"Every time we talk about it or make a post about it, we do see a little uptick in users," Nett said.
I tried out the Betterbin app, and it worked pretty well. It didn't have recycling instructions for every item I scanned, but in those cases, after tapping the request button, I received an email with detailed instructions.
For residents who aren't adept at using smartphone apps, Tri-County Recycling has a searchable Waste Wizard webpage to offer guidance.
If technology isn't your thing at all, Nett offers the following advice for recycling plastics:
"Our general guideline is any bottle, jar or jug within the household. Those one-off things like plastic spoons and your plastic hangers are not going to fall into those categories, and then they become trash."
Post-Crescent reporter Duke Behnke answers your questions about local government. Send questions to dbehnke@gannett.com or call him at 920-993-7176.
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This article originally appeared on Appleton Post-Crescent: Free Betterbin app provides users with detailed recycling instructions
