Waukesha County, WI Trash & Recycling: Bin Placement Rules (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Waukesha County Code §§ 14-265(a)(1), 14-268(b)
- Container ratio rule
- Recycling containers must equal or exceed trash containers
- Volume standard
- 20 gallons/week/unit or 2:1 ratio
- Curb protection
- No removal from bins without permission
- Tenant notice
- At move-in and at least every 6 months
Summary
Waukesha County Code requires multi-family owners to supply enough recycling containers, meeting a 20-gallon-per-week-per-unit standard or a 2:1 trash-to-recycling ratio, and separately bars anyone from taking recyclables off a curb or bin without permission once they are set out for pickup.
(a) Owners of multiple-family dwellings shall do all of the following to cause the materials specified in Section 14-260(5) through (15) to be recycled: 1. Provide adequate, separate containers for the recycling program established in compliance with the ordinance. The number of recycling containers shall equal or be greater than the number of trash containers and at least one of the following shall be met: i. The minimum total volume of recycling container space is equal to 20 gallons per week per dwelling unit. ii. The ratio of trash container volume to recycling container volume is at most 2:1. ... (b) Unlawful removal of recyclables. Recyclable materials that have been deposited or placed at the curb or in a container adjacent to a home or multiple-family dwelling or nonresidential building for the purpose of collection for recycling shall not be collected or removed without permission.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 14-265(a)(1), inside Article IV, Division 1 of Chapter 14, tells owners of multiple-family dwellings, meaning structures with five or more units, how many recycling containers they must provide and how big those containers have to be. The number of recycling containers must at least equal the number of trash containers, and the owner must meet one of two volume tests: a minimum total recycling container space of 20 gallons per week per dwelling unit, or a trash-to-recycling volume ratio no greater than 2:1. Owners must also give tenants written notice of the recycling program at move-in and again at least semi-annually (Sec.
14-265(a)(1)iv). Once bins are set out, Sec. 14-268(b), titled "Unlawful removal of recyclables," protects them: recyclable materials placed at the curb or in a container next to a home, multi-family building or non-residential building for collection "shall not be collected or removed without permission," which bars scavengers and unlicensed haulers from picking through bins before the licensed collector arrives. Sec. "
Violations & Fines
A landlord who under-supplies containers or a scavenger who pulls bagged recyclables off the curb without permission both violate Article IV, Division 1. Waukesha County can inspect multi-family collection areas at any time under Sec. 14-269(a) and issue a citation carrying a forfeiture of at least $50 for a first offense, at least $100 for a second, and up to $500 for each later one, with every day of the violation counted separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many recycling bins does my apartment building have to provide?
Can someone else legally take recyclables out of my bin before pickup?
Do I need to keep my recycling bin covered before it goes out?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukesha County
Compare Waukesha County to another location·View the Wisconsin trash & recycling overview
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