Violations

City Ordinances relating to garbage and recycling services are found in Section 79.

Warning Tags

You may receive a courtesy warning notification from your garbage or recycling collector if there are problems with your cart or materials. These orange (recycling) and green (garbage) tags are left on the carts.

Follow the instructions to prevent interruptions in service and to avoid violations.

Violations

• Following inspection, property owners will be mailed notice of the violation. The property may be posted as a courtesy.
• The Milwaukee Code of Ordinance enforced by Sanitation have 5 days to correct before reinspection.
• Violations which pose an immediate danger to public health, safety, or welfare are subject to immediate correction/removal, the property will be charged accordingly. 
• Failure to correct the violation prior to the reinspection will result in a bill sent to the property owner. Bills not paid within 30 days will incur a $10 late fee.  

Cart related violations

Review all setout instructions

• 79-5-5 and/or 79-32 - Carts must be returned to their storage area no later than 10 PM on the day of collection.
  • First violation in a calendar year
    • Corrected before reinspection - $0
    • Not corrected before reinspection - $70
  • Two or more violations in a calendar year
    • Corrected before reinspection - $30
    • Not corrected before reinspection - $100
• 79-29 - Contaminated Recycling Cart - Review curbside recycling guidelines
  • No charge when corrected before reinspection. 
  • Not corrected before reinspection
    • First violation in a calendar year - $25
    • Two or more violations in a calendar year - $50
• 79-25 - Contaminated Garbage Cart - Seperate recyclable materials, yard waste, and/or electronics from garbage cart.
  Review all garbage guidelines.
  • No charge when corrected before reinspection. 
  • Not corrected before reinspection
    • First violation in a calendar year - $25
    • Two or more violations in a calendar year - $50
• 79-5-2 - Carts must be stored adjacent to the alley or in the rear of the yard if there is no alleyway.
  • No charge when corrected before reinspection. 
  • Not corrected before reinspection
    • First violation in a calendar year - $25
    • Two or more violations in a calendar year - $60
• 79-5-3 Provide a clear and unhindered path to garbage and/or recycling containers within 72 hours of the last snowfall. 
  • No charge when corrected before reinspection.  
  • Not corrected before reinspection
    • First violation in a calendar year - $25
    • Two or more violations in a calendar year - $50

Bulky item pickup and other violations

• Bulky items greater than 1 cubic yard and less than 6 cubic yards are collected for a fee.
  • No charge when corrected before reinspection.  
  • Corrected by the Sanitation Services
    • 1-4 cubic yards - $50
    • 4-6 cubic yards - $150
• 79-2-13b - Electronic Waste
  • Items are not collected curbside and must be taken to a Drop Off Center for recycling disposal. Fee may apply.   
    • No charge when corrected before reinspection.
    • Not corrected before reinspection - $25 + special charge for removal
• Construction and Demolition Waste must be taken to a Drop Off Center or have the collection fee paid for in advance. If not paid in advance, the violation will be referred to the Department of Neighborhood Services. 

Appeals

Charges may be appealed to the Administrative Review Board of Appeals within 120 days of the bill date. 

There is a $25 filing fee to appeal a special charge.

Appeal Form