Plastic Film and Bag Recycling

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2016

In fall of 2013, Dunn County Solid Waste (DCSW) partnered with public and private organizations to create a pilot program called Wisconsin W.R.A.P. (Wrap Recycling Action Project) to expand recycling beyond plastic retail bags to incorporate plastic film. Plastic film includes such items as shrink wrap and the wrap around cases of water bottles and napkins. Through this program Dunn County Solid Waste has created an infrastructure to collect and process large volumes of plastic film and bags from residents and businesses for recycling at it’s seven rural Area Collection Stations and Transfer and Recycling Center. By participating in W.R.A.P. Dunn County created an opportunity to collect and recycle a valuable commodity that was otherwise sent to the landfill. Due to the success of this program, it has been used as a template for other communities including Dunn County’s neighbor, the City of Eau Claire, other Wisconsin communities and Canada.