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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Containment rule
Waste must stay inside the cart
January exception
Cut Christmas trees, 4-foot lengths
Enforcement tool
City/collector may refuse service for noncompliance
First violation forfeiture
$50.00
Third+ violation forfeiture
Up to $2,000.00

Summary

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.

(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.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 12 Update 2).

Full Breakdown

' Loose bags, boxes, or piles set beside the cart are not a lawful pickup regardless of whether they sit within view of the collector's regular route. 24, the owner or occupant can be prosecuted under any applicable City ordinance. 010 clarify that 'curbside' means within three feet of the curb, on the paved surface of the road, within the drive approach, or along the alleyway, at least four feet from any obstruction, or another location the collector designates where alleyways or tight spaces limit normal placement. 040. The current containment and refusal-of-service rules took effect with Ord. No. 61-6011, § 1, adopted March 24, 2026.

Violations & Fines

Because § 6.44.020(e) is one of the subsections listed in § 6.44.140(c)(1), a containment violation carries an escalating forfeiture: $50.00 for a first offense, $200.00 for a second, and up to $2,000.00 for a third or subsequent violation, on top of any nuisance citation issued under Chapter 9.24 for waste left accumulating after service is refused.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set loose trash bags next to my cart in Wausau?
No. Wausau Municipal Code § 6.44.020(e) requires residential solid waste and recyclables to be contained inside the proper cart at curbside; loose items outside the cart are not a lawful set-out.
Is there any exception to the cart-only rule?
Yes, one. Section 6.44.020(e) allows Christmas trees, cut into four-foot lengths, to be placed at curbside during January without being inside a cart.
What happens if I keep violating Wausau's containment rules?
The City or collector can refuse to collect from your property under § 6.44.020(c), and a containment violation under § 6.44.020(e) carries forfeitures of $50.00 for a first offense, $200.00 for a second, and up to $2,000.00 for a third or later offense under § 6.44.140(c)(1).
What does 'curbside' mean under Wausau's ordinance?
Section 6.44.010 defines curbside as within three feet of the curb on the paved road surface, in the drive approach or alleyway, at least four feet from obstructions, or another spot the collector designates for tight-space properties.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Wausau

Collection ScheduleSome RestrictionsBulk Item DisposalSome RestrictionsRecycling RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: RV & Boat ParkingSome RestrictionsHoliday Pickup ScheduleLight RestrictionsRecycling RequirementsSome RestrictionsBin Placement RulesSome RestrictionsIllegal DumpingSome RestrictionsYard Waste CollectionSome RestrictionsDumpster RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Curb Color RulesSignificant RestrictionsParking Rules: Loading ZonesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Driveway RulesSome RestrictionsParking Rules: Commercial & Oversized VehiclesSome RestrictionsFence Regulations: Fence Permit RequirementsSome Restrictions

All Wausau rules

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