Portage County makes changes ahead of December electronics recycling event. What you need to know.

Caitlin Shuda, Stevens Point Journal
·3 min read
To prevent long lines and traffic congestion for the Dec. 2 event, participants must preregister and arrive on time.
To prevent long lines and traffic congestion for the Dec. 2 event, participants must preregister and arrive on time.

PLOVER − Portage County Solid Waste will hold another Electronic and Small Appliance Recycling Event next month.

The last recycling event held Oct. 12 saw unprecedented demand. Almost 500 vehicles drove through the event, and people dropped off between 18,000 and 20,000 pounds of materials. So many people attended the event that many were turned away and were unable to recycle their items.

Because of the high demand, Portage County Waste is hosting another event from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 2, but this one will be set up differently. Here’s what you should know.

How will this event be different?

You need to preregister. According to a release from Portage County Waste, all participants must register by noon Dec. 1, and appointments will be available every 30 minutes starting at 8:30 a.m. Dec. 2. You can register online at www.co.portage.wi.gov and click through the News and Events or Solid Waste Department pages. Anyone arriving late for an appointment will not be admitted.

What are the limits?

The recycling event is limited to no more than 20 items per vehicle. Only Portage County residents will be able to participate. Any non-county residents, businesses or anyone who did not register will be turned away.

Where do you go?

The event will be held at the Portage County Transfer Facility on Moore Road in Plover. Signs will be posted to help direct traffic to Portage County R, then around the block to Black Oak Drive, Twin Towers Drive and then west onto Moore Road.

What items will be accepted?

Portage County Solid Waste will accept: cable boxes, cables and cords, cameras and camcorders, cellphones, PDAs, chargers, clocks, coffee makers, copiers, printers, scanners, fax machines, desktop computer towers, docking stations, DVD/VHS/Blu-ray players, external drives, fans, hair dryers, landline phones, laptop computers, monitors, MP3 and iPod players, microwaves, projectors, radios, satellite dishes and receivers, servers, stereos and speakers, toasters, all types of TVs, UPS and jump starters, vacuum cleaners, video game consoles and controllers.

What will not be accepted?

People will not be able to bring ballasts, batteries, bulbs or lamps, capacitors, dehumidifiers, dryers, gas cylinders, ink and toner cartridges, holiday lights, liquids, medical and radioactive wastes, medical and lab equipment, refrigerators, smoke detectors, stoves, vape pens or washing machines.

What if you can't make the event?

The Portage County Transfer Facility accepts a variety of items year-round for certain fees and takes cash, check, Visa, Discover or Mastercard. You can find a list of accepted items on the Portage County website. Items accepted include garbage, electronics, batteries, lightbulbs, appliances, tires and more.

For more information about the Transfer Facility, visit co.portage.wi.gov/419/Transfer-Facility or find Portage County Solid Waste on Facebook.

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Contact Caitlin at cshuda@gannett.com or follow her on Twitter @CaitlinShuda.

This article originally appeared on Stevens Point Journal: Portage County hosts second Electronics Appliance Recycling Event