Tri-County Recycling Partnership earns state education award

March 23, 2026

APPLETON – The Tri-County Recycling Partnership received the Outstanding Achievement in Education (Group) award from the Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin during the 2026 Wisconsin Integrated Resource Management Conference in Elkhart Lake.

Kathryn Hutter – director of solid waste with the Winnebago County Solid Waste Department – said the recognition highlights the partnership’s Recycle Right Master Class, a recycling education initiative launched in 2022 aimed at improving public understanding of proper recycling practices and reducing contamination in curbside recycling.

Hutter said the program combines classroom-style instruction with volunteer service, training participants to serve as community recycling advocates

Courses, she said, cover topics including curbside recycling guidelines, disposal options for items not accepted in household bins and broader recycling system challenges.

Hutter said the program aims to strengthen public confidence in recycling systems and build a network of trained community educators, while providing a model that could be replicated across Wisconsin.