Trash & Recycling in Appleton, WI (2026)
9 verified trash & recycling rules for Appleton, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Appleton residents must place solid waste, recyclables, yard waste and brush at the curb no earlier than 5 p.m. the day before pickup and no later than 3 a.m. on collection day, per Municipal Code Sec. 15-31. Containers must sit at ground level next to the curb even in winter and be pulled back by midnight of collection day.
Appleton Trash and Recycling Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 15-31
(a) All solid waste, recyclables, yard waste or brush must be placed for pickup by 3:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but not before 5:00 p.m. of the day preceding the regularly scheduled pickup. Containers shall be returned to the point of storage no later than midnight the day of collection. (b) All solid waste and recyclables shall be placed at the ground level next to the curb. During the ...
Bin Placement Rules
Appleton requires trash and recycling carts to go out no earlier than 5:00 p.m. the day before pickup and no later than 3:00 a.m. on collection day, placed at ground level next to the curb, under Section 15-31. Properties other than single-family homes may also need a screened container enclosure under Section 15-29(e).
Appleton Garbage Cart Set-Out Rules
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code §§ 15-29(e), 15-31(a)-(b)
(a) All solid waste, recyclables, yard waste or brush must be placed for pickup by 3:00 a.m. on the day of collection, but not before 5:00 p.m. of the day preceding the regularly scheduled pickup. Containers shall be returned to the point of storage no later than midnight the day of collection. (b) All solid waste and recyclables shall be placed at the ground level next to the curb. During the ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Appleton collects residential bulky overflow, like large furniture and rugs too big for a polycart, on a separate schedule the Department of Public Works keeps on file under Section 15-33(f), while Section 15-26 defines exactly which discarded items qualify as bulky wastes for that program.
Appleton Bulky Item Pickup Rules
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code §§ 15-26, 15-33(f)
(2) Bulky wastes shall mean discarded articles of such dimension as are not normally collected with domestic waste including, but not limited to, furniture, small rugs, and tires, but would be considered domestic wastes. In general, bulky wastes are those wastes too large to be placed in a disposable bag or polycart, and approved by the director. ... (f) Bulky Overflow. Residential bulky overfl...
Recycling Requirements
Appleton issues every single-family premise a dedicated recycling polycart under Section 15-28(a) of the Municipal Code and picks it up every two weeks per Section 15-33(a), with weekly trash collection on a schedule the Department of Public Works sets. Recyclables must go only in that assigned cart.
Appleton Curbside Recycling Requirements
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code §§ 15-28(a), 15-33(a)
(a) Owners of a single-family premise shall be provided polycarts by the City for each premise. One polycart shall be for solid waste storage and the other shall be designated solely for the collection of recyclables. Only polycarts and bags marked with a special collection tag are permitted containers for solid waste collection for single-family residences. Recyclables shall only be disposed o...
Illegal Dumping
Appleton bars dumping or abandoning used building or fill material on any city lot that can't be leveled, and requires any leveled material to be leveled, under Municipal Code § 10-24. The lot owner, not just the dumper, is responsible for removing or leveling it.
Appleton Fill and Building Material Dumping Ban
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 10-24
No person shall dump or leave used building or fill material on any lot within the City which cannot be leveled, and all such material which can be leveled shall be leveled. The owner of any such lot shall be responsible for removing or leveling such material.
Yard Waste Collection
Appleton collects residential yard waste and brush separately from regular trash on a schedule set by the Department of Public Works under City Code Sec. 15-33(d)-(e). Brush must be cut into 4-foot lengths and bundled to no more than 2 feet in diameter and 45 pounds, and grass clippings aren't collected at all. Violations forfeit $250 to $500.
Appleton Yard Waste and Brush Pickup
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 15-33(d), (e)
(d) Yard waste. Residential yard waste will be collected separately from all other waste. Times of collection shall be pursuant to a schedule on file in the Department of Public Works. (e) Brush. Residential brush will be collected separately from all other waste. Times of collection shall be pursuant to a schedule on file in the Department of Public Works.
Dumpster Rules
Appleton's zoning code requires refuse containers and dumpster enclosures on non-residential and multifamily properties to sit in the side or rear yard, keep a 5-foot setback from lot lines, and be screened with fencing, masonry or evergreens under Section 23-47. Front-yard placement needs Community & Economic Development Director approval.
Appleton Commercial Dumpster Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 23-47
Sec. 23-47. Refuse container and dumpster enclosure standards. ... The following standards shall apply to refuse container and dumpster enclosures: (a) Refuse containers of appropriate size are required for all non-residential and multifamily properties. Refuse containers and dumpster enclosures are exempt from Section 23-43(d)(5) and Section 23-50(d)(4). ... (b) Refuse containers shall be scre...
Collection Schedule
Appleton picks up residential solid waste once a week and recycling every two weeks on a route schedule the Director of Public Works sets, per Sec. 15-33(a). Waste must originate at the serviced address, commercial properties must contract privately for hauling, and the City does not collect industrial waste, grass clippings, or toxic and hazardous materials.
Appleton Residential Trash Collection Schedule
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code § 15-33
(a) Residences. ... Residential solid waste shall be collected one (1) time per week, and recycling every two (2) weeks, from dwelling units according to schedule established by the Director of Public Works. Solid waste set out for collection must originate at the residence being serviced; waste set out for collection that originated at a different property will not be collected. ( ... b) Comme...
Recycling Rules
Appleton makes it unlawful for anyone other than authorized city employees or county recycling contractors to go through, sort or take anything from a recycling or solid waste cart set out for collection, under Section 15-32. Recyclables are whatever materials the Director of Public Works designates for the city's recycling program.
Appleton Recycling Scavenging Ban
Some RestrictionsAppleton Municipal Code §§ 15-26, 15-32
Recyclables means all materials designated by the Director of Public Works for inclusion in the City recycling program. ... Sec. 15-32. ... Scavenging of solid waste or recyclables placed for collection. Authorized personnel. It shall be unlawful for any person other than authorized City employees or county recycling contractors to go through, sort or take anything from any solid waste or recyc...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Appleton city rules.
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