When is Recycling Picked up?

• Recycling is collected every other week on your assigned collection day.
• Please place your cart out by 7 am on your collection day.
• Put your recycling in the recycling cart, which has a yellow lid.

What if my recycling doesn't fit in the bin?

We don't pick up items outside of the cart, and carts with excess material preventing the lid from closing cannot be collected.

If you have items that will not fit in your cart, please consider using our fee-based special collection service, take the items to the Drop Off Center, or hold them for your next pick-up.

Additional and replacement carts are available for residents.

Where do I put my recycling bin?

The best place to put your cart is in your driveway apron if you have a driveway, or a few feet from your garage if you're in an alley way, with at least 3 feet of space between other carts, objects or structures. This gives the mechanical arm of the truck enough room to safely pick up your cart. Review our Cart Placement & Preparation Tips for more information.

What's Recyclable?

You can recycle a lot of different things. We accept plastics #1 #2 & #5 along with; paper, glass, cardboard, aluminum cans, and much more. Learn what you can recycle. As a reminder, don't recycle it until it's clean!

Here's a printable guide of what you can and cannot recycle.

Return Trip Fee

If your cart was not set out, inaccessible or not able to be emptied when our trucks arrived for collection, we can make a return trip for a $25 fee. Please call us at (414) 471-8422 or email dpw@wauwatosa.net to schedule this collection.

Once you received confirmation, you can pay the return trip fee online.

Contact

For more information, please email the Department of Public Works Operations Division or call (414) 471-8422.

Waste Wizard