Collection Regulations.
Milwaukee Code of Ordinances § 79-2
in effect79-2. Collection Regulations.
1. GENERAL REGULATIONS; MULTIUNIT DWELLINGS.
a. Mixed solid waste of domestic origin, unless contents are specifically excluded, shall be collected by the department, provided such waste is properly handled, contained, stored and located in conformance with the rules of the commissioner.
b. The department shall charge a fee to the owners of multiunit dwellings with 5 or more units, except condominiums, to recover 100% of the cost of collection services.
b-1. The fee charged under this paragraph shall include indirect costs.
b-2. The amount of the fee charged under this paragraph shall be determined on or before January 31 of each year by the commissioner of public works, subject to the approval of the common council. After January 31 of each year, based on the level of revenue being generated during that year, the commissioner may change the charge rate no more than once additionally per year to meet the cost recovery goal cited above, again subject to the approval of the common council.
b-3. The commissioner of public works shall annually on or before September 28, submit a report to the common council relating to the number of multiunit dwellings with 5 or more units serviced, fees collected versus not-collected and net cost recovery rate.
b-4. Whenever any fee authorized to be collected under this paragraph has been billed but has not been timely paid, the commissioner may impose a special charge against the property for the amount of the unpaid fee as provided in s. 79-16-2-b.
c. Owners of multiunit dwellings with 5 or more units who choose not to have city removal of solid waste shall be required to provide for removal of solid waste on a weekly basis.
2. DOMESTIC GARBAGE shall be drained of all free liquid, placed in plastic bags or wrapped in several thicknesses of paper or other similar material and stored in approved containers. The department may refuse to collect undrained garbage that is not properly stored.
3. COMMERCIAL GARBAGE need not be wrapped, but must be stored in approved containers. Such unwrapped garbage may be collected by the department, subject to the rules of the commissioner. Undrained garbage of a liquid or semi-liquid nature shall not be collected.
4. RUBBISH shall be stored in approved containers. Ashes shall be sufficiently dampened to prevent spreading of particles and dust, but shall not be wet beyond this point. Rubbish that is larger than can be stored in approved containers shall be securely tied in compact bundles, not to exceed 100 pounds in weight or more than 4 feet in length, or more than 2 feet in diameter, and placed adjacent to waste containers. Tree logs and branches shall not exceed 4 feet in length, or 10 inches in diameter, and shall be placed immediately behind the curb or alley line.
5. SMALL DEAD ANIMALS found in the public right-of-way shall be collected by the department.
6. NAUSEOUS OR OFFENSIVE WASTE. Liquid, manure, and other offensive or harmful waste. All liquid, hazardous or toxic waste, and certain nauseous or offensive waste shall be stored separately from all other waste in approved containers. Such containers shall be clearly labeled, rodent resistant, nuisance free, safe and secured to prevent access by the public, or as otherwise provided in the rules of the commissioner and not contrary to any order from the commissioner of health or the commissioner of neighborhood services. Such waste shall be considered commercial waste, and need not be collected by the department.
7. CONSTRUCTION WASTE. No owner, lessee, managing agent or contractor shall permit an accumulation of construction waste to remain upon any premises, street, alley or public place. Such waste shall be stored and handled in an approved manner and not contrary to any order of the commissioner of health or the commissioner of neighborhood services. Such waste shall be considered commercial waste and need not be collected by the department except such persons may apply to the department for special collection service as provided under s. 79-6.5.
8. DOMESTIC TREE AND BULKY WASTE. a. Trees, logs and branches generated in normal household maintenance not exceeding 2 cubic yards shall be collected by the department between April 1 and November 30. The waste shall be stored and handled in an approved manner and not contrary to any order of the commissioner of health or the commissioner of neighborhood services. Collection shall be scheduled as practical by the department.
b. Bulky waste not exceeding one cubic yard shall be collected by the department. The waste shall be stored and handled in an approved manner and not contrary to any order of the commissioner of health or the commissioner of neighborhood services. Collection shall be scheduled as practical by the department.
9. MANUFACTURING WASTE shall be clearly labeled and stored in an approved manner, not contrary to any order of the commissioner of health or the commissioner of neighborhood services. No person shall allow an excessive accumulation of such waste upon any premises, but shall cause such waste to be removed regularly and as necessary. The department shall not be responsible for collection of such waste.
10. LEAD ACID BATTERIES. In this subsection, "lead acid battery" means any battery which is primarily composed of both lead and sulfuric acid, with a capacity of 6 volts or more.
a. No person may place a used lead acid battery in mixed municipal solid waste or discard or otherwise dispose of a lead acid battery except by delivery to an automotive battery retailer or wholesaler, a collection or recycling facility or a secondary lead smelter.
b. No automotive battery retailer may dispose of a used lead acid battery except by delivery to the agent of a battery wholesaler, to a battery manufacturer for delivery to a secondary lead smelter, to a collection or recycling facility or to a secondary lead smelter.
c. Each battery improperly disposed under pars. a or b shall constitute a separate violation.
d. Retailers and wholesalers of lead acid batteries shall provide for collection of used lead acid batteries for recycling as follows:
d-1. Any person selling lead acid batteries at retail shall accept at the point of transfer, in a quantity at least equal to the number of new batteries purchased, used lead acid batteries offered by customers.
d-2. Any person selling lead acid batteries at wholesale shall accept at the point of transfer, in a quantity at least equal to the number of new batteries purchased, used lead acid batteries offered by customers. Any automotive battery wholesaler accepting batteries from any automotive battery retailer shall remove batteries from the retail point of collection not less than every 90 days.
11. YARD WASTE. Yard waste shall not be collected by the department. Residents shall dispose of yard waste generated on their properties at sites designated by the commissioner.
a. Yard waste shall be disposed of at least once every 2 weeks during the yard waste season as determined by the commissioner, except that residents may allow grass clippings to remain on their lawns rather than adding them to other yard waste which may accumulate on their properties, or grass clippings and garden debris may be composted in a manner specified by the commissioner.
b. Between disposals, yard waste shall be stored in bags, boxes or other containers in a manner preventing creation of a nuisance.
c. Upon disposal at approved sites, residents shall debag or otherwise decontainerize all yard waste before depositing it in the yard waste receptacles provided.
12. OIL FILTERS AND OIL ABSORBENT MATERIALS a. No person may place a used oil filter in mixed municipal solid waste.
b. No person may place oil absorbent materials in mixed municipal solid waste, except for the disposal of less than one gallon of oil absorbent materials that contain waste oil resulting from a nonroutine spill.
13. ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
a. Electronic devices as specified in s. 287.07(5), Wis. Stats., shall be collected by the department as provided under s.79-6.5-9.
b. No person may place an electronic device in mixed municipal solid waste or discard or otherwise dispose of an electronic device except by delivery to an electronic device collection or recycling facility.
Source: City of Milwaukee Legislative Reference Bureau, Milwaukee City Charter and Code of Ordinances (city.milwaukee.gov master PDFs)URL: https://city.milwaukee.gov/ImageLibrary/Groups/ccClerk/Ordinances/Volume-1/CH79.pdf#page=3Fetched: 10/26/2026