Sheboygan, WI Trash & Recycling: Pickup Rules & Schedules (2026)

Section 102-44 is the cart rule behind every Sheboygan pickup. Under subsection (a), the department of public works provides one container for collectable refuse and one container for collectable recyclables to the owner of each residential unit producing refuse and recycling that is residential in origin. Section 102-1 defines residential in origin as produced or accumulated in buildings of four or fewer residential units, and defines collectable refuse as drained and wrapped garbage, manufactured wood wastes, organic byproducts, and materials not considered recyclable by state law, excluding prohibited materials or noncollectible refuse.

Subsection (b) is the acceptance test. The department of public works will only accept collectable refuse and collectable recyclables contained within a department of public works-issued container with the lid fully closed. A cart with the lid open is not suitable for collection and is collected in accordance with subsection 102-2(a). Collectable recyclables shall not be separately bagged within the issued container, and section 102-49 repeats that a bagged load makes the container unsuitable for collection.

Subsection (c) covers a change in use. If the zoning or usage of a residential unit changes so that refuse and recyclables are no longer residential in origin, the unit has 14 days to contact the department of public works to arrange for the carts to be picked up. Subsection (d) gives seven days to report a damaged, lost, stolen, or destroyed cart, and the department can impose a replacement charge of up to $62.00 that shall not exceed its reasonable costs. Under subsection (e), the carts stay with the residential unit when a resident moves, and a resident who leaves without all containers is charged $62.00.

What goes in the cart is limited by section 102-46. The city collects collectable refuse that is residential in origin, and no person shall deposit at the curb or alley any commercial refuse, noncollectible recyclables, noncollectible refuse, or prohibited materials. Section 102-11 adds that, except for law enforcement personnel and authorized city employees, no one shall collect, remove, or tamper with items placed out for refuse or recyclable collection. Set-out times and cart spacing are in section 102-45, and the weekly cycle is in section 102-48.