Trash & Recycling in Waukesha, WI (2026)
8 verified trash & recycling rules for Waukesha, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Waukesha residents cannot leave carts at the curb whenever they like. Municipal Code Section 13.055(7)(c) fixes exact windows for putting Carts and Containers out and bringing them back in, and breaking those windows lets the City haul the container away and bill the owner for its return.
Trash Cart Set-Out Times in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 13.055(7)(c)
(c) Placement and Removal Times. Carts and Containers shall be placed for collection no earlier than noon the day before scheduled collection, and no later than 6:00 a.m. the day of scheduled collection. Carts and Containers that have been emptied shall be removed from the collection location no later than 9:30 p.m. the day of scheduled collection; Carts and Containers that have not been emptie...
Bin Placement Rules
Where you put your cart matters as much as when. Municipal Code Section 13.055(5)(b) requires Carts to sit adjacent to the public street, aligned so the automated truck arm can grab them without repositioning, and spaced at least 3 feet from other carts or obstacles.
Trash Cart Placement Rules in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 13.055(5)(b)
(b) Cart Placement. Carts shall be placed adjacent to a public street, as designated by the Department for the specific Eligible Property. Carts shall not be placed adjacent to private roads. Carts shall be positioned as close to the curb as possible, aligned so that the Cart faces the street without obstruction between the Cart and the street so the automated arm on the truck can reach it with...
Bulk Item Disposal
Large items don't go in the regular Cart in Waukesha. Municipal Code Section 13.055(4)(c) routes anything too big to fit in a Cart, or weighing over 50 pounds, through a separate special collection with its own set-out window and a hard 24-hour curb limit.
Bulky Item Pickup Rules in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 13.055(4)(c)
(c) Bulky Item Collection. Bulky Items shall be picked up only by special collection, separately from regular Solid Waste. Arrangements for pick-up of such items shall be made according to instructions found in the Residential Solid Waste and Recycling Regulations. Such items shall be placed in the area between the sidewalk and curb in front of the Eligible Property premises, or as directed by ...
Recycling Requirements
Waukesha runs its curbside recycling program as a City utility, not an opt-in service: Municipal Code Section 13.055(2) requires the Department of Public Works to provide Recyclables collection to every Eligible Property, while properties that don't meet the eligibility test must arrange and pay for their own private recycling disposal.
Curbside Recycling Requirements in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 13.055(2)
(g) Recyclables. Recyclables means household waste that is accepted by the Waukesha County recycling program, and is listed in the current Waukesha County recycling guidelines. ... (2) Provision of Collection Services. The City shall provide Solid Waste or Recyclables collection services to all Dwelling Units located on Eligible Properties, subject to all of the terms and conditions of this Sec...
Illegal Dumping
Dumping refuse anywhere in Waukesha without the property owner's consent is flatly prohibited under Municipal Code § 11.081, adopted by Ord. 2026-3. Depositing more than five pounds or a cubic foot of trash, yard waste, construction debris, or similar refuse triggers a forfeiture of $500 to $1,500 per violation.
Illegal Dumping Penalties in Waukesha
Heavy RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 11.081
(a) To Dump or Dumping means to deposit by any means Refuse Material of a weight greater than five pounds or in a volume greater than one cubic foot on, in, or along any public or private property without the express consent of the owner of the property... ... (2) Prohibition. Dumping is prohibited in the City of Waukesha. (3) Penalty. Any person who violates this section shall be subject to a ...
Dumpster Rules
Placing a dumpster, dump cart, or storage container on a Waukesha street or public right-of-way requires a permit from the Public Works Department first. Municipal Code Section 6.14 created the requirement in 2015 and folds dumpster placement into the same encroachment-permit section that governs building material and construction equipment stored in the right-of-way.
Dumpster and Roll-Off Permits in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 6.14
PERMITS REQUIRED. ... (Cr. #15-13) Before a dump cart, dumpster or storage container is placed on any street or public right of way for any purpose, a permit must first be obtained from the Public Works Department. APPLICATION. Application for permit to place material, machinery, etc., connected with the operation and construction of new buildings, remodeling of existing buildings, in the stree...
Collection Schedule
The City of Waukesha collects residential solid waste once a week on a set weekday, Monday through Friday, assigned by the Department of Public Works for each area of the city. Recyclables go out on that same collection day on a periodic schedule the Department sets, and the Department can shift schedules for holidays or other disruptions.
Weekly Trash Collection Schedule in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 13.055(3)
(3) Collection Schedule. Solid Waste shall be collected once every week, on a scheduled collection day, Monday through Friday. Collection days for defined areas within the City shall be determined by the Department. Collection schedules may be altered due to holidays or other circumstances, in the Department’s discretion. Recyclables shall be collected on a periodic basis to be determined by th...
Recycling Rules
Waukesha keeps its recycling stream clean by law: Municipal Code Section 13.055(7)(b) bans putting anything but Recyclables in a Recyclables Cart or Container, and bans putting Solid Waste in with recyclables or recyclables in with trash. Only material matching a bin's label may go inside it.
Recyclables Contamination Rules in Waukesha
Some RestrictionsWaukesha Municipal Code § 13.055(7)(b)
(b) Only Solid Waste and Recyclables Allowed in Carts and Containers. Only Solid Waste and Recyclables may be placed in their respective Carts and Containers, and placement of any other materials in Carts and Containers, or placement of Solid Waste in Recyclables Carts or Containers or Recyclables in Solid Waste Carts or Containers, is prohibited.
Looking for Waukesha County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Waukesha city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Waukesha County →