Milwaukee Garbage & Recycling Pickup 2026: Schedule, Bulky Items & Drop Off Centers
When your garbage and recycling get picked up, how holidays change it, and where bulky items, leaves, Christmas trees, tires and hazardous waste go. All from official City of Milwaukee DPW and MMSD sources, in one page.
Leaf rake-out deadline
You can rake leaves into the street until Sunday, November 15. Leaves set out after that won’t be collected.
Thanksgiving week
Thanksgiving and the day after are City holidays, and pickups shift forward after holidays. Check your schedule that week.
Where does this go in Milwaukee?
Pick an item to see if it goes in a cart, at the curb or to a drop-off site.
For anything not listed, check the sections below or call 414-286-CITY.
Based on City of Milwaukee DPW rules for homes with 1–4 units and MMSD’s hazardous waste program. Drop Off Centers need a photo ID or proof of residency.
Milwaukee trash pickup: quick facts
Who gets City garbage pickup in Milwaukee?
The Department of Public Works (DPW) collects garbage and recycling for about 190,000 households in buildings with one to four units. Larger buildings use a private hauler hired by the owner.
| Your home | Garbage | Recycling |
|---|---|---|
| House or building with 1–4 units | City DPW · billed quarterly | City DPW |
| Building with 5 or more units | Private hauler hired by the owner | Private hauler hired by the owner |
Milwaukee garbage and recycling schedule
Garbage and recycling are routed separately, so they don’t always come on the same day. Look up both for your address.
| Cart | How often | How to set it out |
|---|---|---|
| Garbage | Every week | Bagged, inside the cart · lid closed |
| Recycling | Every other week, April–November · varied schedule December–March | Loose in the 95-gallon cart, never in bags |
Milwaukee holiday trash schedule 2026–27
There’s no garbage or recycling pickup on City holidays, and collection days shift forward after each one. Because Milwaukee doesn’t use a fixed weekday route, the exact new date depends on your address: check the lookup after a holiday week.
| Holiday | Date | Pickup |
|---|---|---|
| Thanksgiving and the day after | Thu–Fri, Nov 26–27, 2026 | No pickup · schedule shifts forward |
| Christmas Eve and Christmas Day | Thu–Fri, Dec 24–25, 2026 | No pickup · schedule shifts forward |
| New Year’s Day | Fri, Jan 1, 2027 | No pickup · schedule shifts forward |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 18, 2027 | No pickup · schedule shifts forward |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 31, 2027 | No pickup · schedule shifts forward |
What goes in the Milwaukee recycling cart
Put everything in loose. If an item isn’t on the yes list, keep it out of the cart.
| Material | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Paper | Paper and cardboard | — |
| Plastic | Bottles and containers #1, #2 and #5 | Plastic bags and wrap, Styrofoam, #3, #4, #6 and #7 |
| Metal | Aluminum and steel cans | Scrap metal, propane tanks, batteries |
| Glass | Bottles and jars | Window glass, mirrors, ceramics |
| Cartons | Food and beverage cartons | — |
| Never in the cart | Food and yard waste, hoses and cords, sharps, wood and furniture, hazardous chemicals, diapers | |
Leaves, brush and yard waste
From October 1 to November 15 you can rake leaves into the street for City pickup. New for fall 2026, you can also set leaves out in paper bags at the curb.
| What | How |
|---|---|
| Loose leaves | Rake into the street by November 15, one foot from the curb · don’t park on the piles |
| Bagged leaves | Paper bags only, at the curb · request pickup at 414-286-CITY · no plastic bags of any kind |
| Garden waste | Flowers, trimmings and weeds can go on top of a leaf pile or in paper bags · no grass clippings or pumpkins |
| Brush | Keep it out of leaf piles · place it between the curb and sidewalk and request a brush pickup online or at 414-286-CITY |
| Year-round | Free drop-off at City Drop Off Centers (brush free under 6 cu. yd.) |
Christmas tree pickup in Milwaukee
| What | Details |
|---|---|
| When | Request a pickup from December 26 to January 31 |
| How to request | Milwaukee.gov/ClickForAction, the MKE Mobile Action app or 414-286-CITY |
| Prepare it | Remove all decorations · don’t bag it · trees with fake snow can’t be composted |
| Pickup | Separate from garbage day · snow and ice can cause delays |
| Who | Homes with City curbside garbage and recycling service |
Bulky item pickup in Milwaukee
Up to 1 cubic yard of bulky items can go out free next to your cart on your regular collection day.
| Load | Option | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 1 cu. yd. | Next to your cart on collection day | Free |
| 1–4 cu. yd. | Special pickup · request online or at 414-286-CITY | $75 |
| 4–6 cu. yd. | Special pickup | $225 |
| Remodeling debris | Pre-paid special pickup | $50 per cu. yd. |
Milwaukee Drop Off Centers
Two City sites take bulky items, appliances, electronics, tires, brush and recyclables. Bring a photo ID or proof of residency. Cash and card accepted.
| Load | Fee |
|---|---|
| Under 1 cu. yd. · recyclables and scrap metal | Free |
| 1–3 cu. yd. · 3–6 · 6–10 · 10–18 | $20 · $30 · $50 · $90 |
| Brush | Free under 6 cu. yd., then $20 |
| TVs | $5 each, up to 3 |
| Tires | Free, up to 5 |
Paint, chemicals and other hazardous waste
The Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) takes household hazardous waste from Milwaukee County residents at year-round sites.
| Site | Hours |
|---|---|
| 3879 W. Lincoln Ave. | Thu–Sat 7 a.m.–3 p.m. |
| 6060 S. 13th St. | Tue 11 a.m.–6 p.m. · Sat 8 a.m.–2 p.m. |
How much Milwaukee garbage service costs
Garbage and recycling are paid through the Solid Waste Charge on your quarterly Municipal Services Bill.
| Charge | Per quarter | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Solid Waste Charge (per unit, 1–4 unit homes) | $67.95 | $271.80 |
| Each extra garbage cart | $20.31 | $81.24 |
Missed pickup
- Check your datesGarbage and recycling come on different schedules, and pickups shift after holidays. Confirm on the collection day lookup.
- Snow or storm delay?Leave your carts out until they’re emptied. No fines apply.
- Check the usual causesCarts not out by 7 a.m., less than three feet of space, lid facing the wrong way, or over 200 lbs.
- Report itCall 414-286-CITY (2489) or use Milwaukee.gov/ClickForAction or the MKE Mobile Action app.
5 mistakes Milwaukee residents make
- Bagging recyclingRecyclables go in loose. Bags are rejected.
- Leaving carts out overnightBring them in by 10 p.m. or risk a fine.
- Putting the TV at the curbElectronics, appliances and tires aren’t bulky items. Take them to a Drop Off Center.
- Leaves in plastic bagsOnly paper bags or raked-out piles are collected.
- Assuming the same day after a holidayCollection shifts forward. Check the lookup.
Who to contact
| For | Contact |
|---|---|
| Missed pickup, carts, bulky items, brush, trees | DPW Call Center · 414-286-CITY (2489) · Milwaukee.gov/ClickForAction |
| Hazardous waste | MMSD household hazardous waste program · mmsd.com |
| Solid Waste Charge on your bill | Milwaukee Water Works customer service |
Milwaukee trash pickup: frequently asked questions
How often is garbage picked up in Milwaukee?
Every week. Recycling is every other week from April to November and on a varied schedule in winter.
Is there garbage pickup on Thanksgiving?
No. Thanksgiving and the day after are City holidays, and collection shifts forward afterward. Check your dates on the City’s lookup.
Why aren’t garbage and recycling on the same day?
They’re routed separately, so they can come on different days. Look up both for your address.
What time should my carts be out?
By 7 a.m. at the alley or curb line. Bring them back in by 10 p.m.
How do I get rid of a couch?
Up to 1 cubic yard goes out free next to your cart. For more, request a special pickup ($75 for 1–4 cubic yards) or use a Drop Off Center.
Where do I take tires and old TVs?
To a City Drop Off Center. Tires are free (up to 5) and TVs are $5 each (up to 3).
When can I rake leaves into the street?
October 1 to November 15. Keep piles a foot from the curb, or use paper bags at the curb.
When is Christmas tree pickup?
Request it from December 26 to January 31 through Click for Action, the MKE Mobile Action app or 414-286-CITY.
Where do paint and chemicals go?
To an MMSD household hazardous waste site, such as 3879 W. Lincoln Ave. or 6060 S. 13th St.
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