Trash & Recycling in Wausau, WI (2026)
10 verified trash & recycling rules for Wausau, Wisconsin, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Pickup Rules & Schedules
Wausau requires every resident to keep solid waste and recyclables inside the City-issued cart at curbside; loose trash isn't allowed except cut-up Christmas trees in January. The City or collector can also refuse pickup to anyone who won't follow the chapter's rules, backed by real forfeitures.
Curbside Trash Containment Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 6.44.020(e)
(e)Containment. No person shall place any residential sold waste or recyclables at curbside for collection that is not contained within the proper cart with the sole exception, that during the month of January, Christmas trees cut into four-foot lengths may be placed at curbside.
Bin Placement Rules
Wausau carts can't sit at curbside more than 20 hours around collection day: not before 3 p.m. the day prior, and gone by 11 a.m. the day after. Carts are also barred from front yards, and residents must keep a snow-free path to them in winter.
Trash Cart Placement Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code §§ 6.44.040(e), 6.44.070
(e)Location of waste containers on property. No carts or other waste containers of any type shall be located at any time in any front yards except in compliance with section 6.44.060. ... Carts shall be set out at the curbside by residential unit owners, occupants, or other persons in charge of the residential unit, or as may be otherwise directed by the City, or by the collector. Any cart not ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Wausau defines bulk items as discarded residential items over 50 pounds or too large for a cart, from couches and mattresses to snow blowers and bicycles. Chapter 6.44 requires residents to arrange bulk pickup directly with the City's authorized collector rather than setting items at curbside with regular trash, and rates are set by the collector.
Bulk Item Collection Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code §§ 6.44.010, 6.44.020(d)
Bulk items means discarded residential items that are heavier than 50 pounds in weight, or are otherwise not able to fit within an approved empty cart. Such items include but are not limited to furniture, chairs, couches, tables, mattresses, box springs, carpeting/padding, snow blowers, push and riding lawn mowers, disassembled outdoor play equipment, large toys, bicycles, and fish aquariums. ....
Recycling Requirements
Every Wausau residential unit gets one 65-gallon trash cart and one 95-gallon recycling cart from the City's collector at no charge, but a damaged or lost cart costs $75 to replace, and swapping sizes carries its own fees and waiting periods.
Curbside Recycling Cart Requirements in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 6.44.040(b)
(b)Residential units. Carts for the collection of residential solid waste and recyclables shall be provided to each residential unit by the City or collector. Each residential unit shall be provided one, 65 gallon (or the nearest equivalent depending upon the manufacturer) residential solid waste cart and one, 95 gallon (or the nearest equivalent depending upon the manufacturer) recyclables car...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
Wausau, Wisconsin moves curbside garbage, recycling and yard waste pickup one day later after six holidays: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. The shift depends on the weekday the holiday lands on, and a missed pickup goes to Harter's Fox Valley Disposal at 1-888-804-8556.
Holiday Trash and Recycling Pickup Shifts in Wausau
Light RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code §§ 6.44.010, 6.44.020(a); City of Wausau Public Works, Garbage & Recycling, Holiday Schedule for Garbage, Recycling, Yard Waste Pick-up
When a holiday falls on a week day, Harter's Fox Valley Disposal will maintain a five-day schedule (see below) for the collection of garbage, recyclables and yard waste. ... Garbage should be placed out by 5:00 a.m. ... Holidays include: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. When the holiday falls on MONDAY, pick-up will be moved one day...
Illegal Dumping
Wausau bans dumping waste on public streets, parks and vacant lots, and separately bans dumping on someone else's private property without consent. Violations of the public-dumping rule can draw forfeitures up to $1,000.00 under Municipal Code § 6.44.080 and § 9.04.060.
Illegal Dumping Law in Wausau, WI
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code §§ 6.44.080, 9.04.060
(a)Dumping solid waste and yard waste. No person shall rake, deposit, throw, place or leave any residential solid waste, solid waste or yard waste upon any highway, street, court, lane, alley or other public way, park, vacant lot, yard, body of water or any other place except in an appropriate cart in the case of residential units or other appropriate solid waste or recyclables container in the...
Yard Waste Collection
Wausau's citywide fall leaf collection is scheduled to begin Monday, October 12, 2026, and the city's interactive map gives each neighborhood its own week. Do not rake leaves into the gutter until the weekend before your scheduled pickup. Outside that program, raking yard waste into the street is banned, and the Chellis Street yard waste site takes leaves through November 22, 2026.
Wausau Leaf Collection and Yard Waste Rules
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code Secs. 6.44.030(d), 6.44.060(d), 6.44.080(a), 6.44.080(d)
(d)Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary in this chapter, every occupant of a residential unit is required to separate yard waste from recyclables and residential solid waste ... All yard waste so separated shall be deposited at the City's designated yard waste collection site or composted or otherwise disposed of by the owner of the property. ... (d)Yard waste shall be dropped off at ...
Dumpster Rules
Wausau businesses must supply their own watertight, fly-proof dumpsters with tight covers, since the City provides no collection service to nonresidential property. Owners keep containers clean, replace damaged ones immediately, and zoning rules require any dumpster enclosure to be screened.
Commercial Dumpster Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 6.44.040(a)
(a)Nonresidential units. Each and every owner of a nonresidential building or property shall provide and renew when necessary a sufficient number of containers to hold solid waste and recyclables which are of substantial construction, have tight fitting covers and strong handles on the outside, and which shall be watertight and fly-proof. All containers shall be maintained by the owner and occu...
Collection Schedule
Wausau collects residential solid waste at least once a week on a schedule set by the City-authorized collector, with recycling picked up every other week on the same day. Collection can't start before 5:45 a.m., and the City provides no service to nonresidential property.
Residential Trash Collection Schedule in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 6.44.020(a)
(a)Residential units. Residential solid waste shall be collected not less than once per week from all residential units according to a schedule set by the collector and approved by the City. ... Recyclables shall be collected at least once every two weeks on the same day scheduled for collection of residential solid waste. Collection shall not commence before 5:45 a.m.
Recycling Rules
Wausau requires households to separate 15 categories of recyclables, from lead-acid batteries to waste tires, from their trash before it goes in the cart. Mixed loads aren't collected, and the separation duty is mandatory citywide under Chapter 6.44.
Recycling Separation Rules in Wausau
Some RestrictionsWausau Municipal Code § 6.44.030(a), (g)
(a)Occupants of residential units shall separate the following materials from postconsumer waste:(1)Lead acid batteries.(2)Major appliances.(3)Waste oil(4)Yard waste.(5)Aluminum containers.(6)Bi-metal containers.(7)Corrugated paper or other container board.(8)Foam polystyrene packaging.(9)Glass containers.(10)Magazines.(11)Newspaper.(12)Office paper.(13)Rigid plastic containers made of PETE, HD...
Looking for Marathon County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Wausau city rules.
Trash & Recycling in Marathon County →