New rules coming regarding garbage pickup in Milwaukee



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- Last Monday's bitter cold threw some homeowners off schedule this week. Trash collection for Milwaukee residents who normally have pickup on Monday was delayed until Saturday -- and more permanent schedule changes are on the way.

Garbage collectors made the icy trek up sidewalks and driveways to collect trash on Saturday, January 11th. This, after bitterly cold temperatures delayed trash pickup, and freezing rain on Friday night made for slippery conditions.

Coming soon are new rules regarding garbage and recycling pickup.

Department of Public Works employees will place tags on garbage bins beginning this Monday, January 13th. The tags include updated set of guidelines for homeowners.

By the end of January, residents will no longer be able to leave their garbage cart by their house. Instead, residents must move the garbage cart to the curb.

Beginning on January 27th, garbage collections will take place at the curb -- and carts must be placed there by 7:00 a.m. on garbage collection day. The carts will need to be returned to wherever they are stored by 10:00 p.m. on collection day.

Recycling carts will still be retrieved by DPW crews from storage areas -- and do not need to be placed at the curb.

The updated winter collection schedule is in effect until the first week of April. It will mimic collection rules that are already in place for spring, summer and fall.

Garbage crews were out on Saturday because Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett declared a cold weather health warning ahead of this week's deep freeze to keep workers and residents safe. All non-essential city services were closed on Monday -- including garbage and recycling collection.

New rules are coming regarding pickups that are delayed as well.

If garbage collection is cancelled due to severe winter weather, it will now be made up on the next business day.

DPW employees say it's still a good idea to keep your garbage collection area free of snow and ice -- to make the job easier for DPW workers.

CLICK HERE to visit Milwaukee DPW's website.

CLICK HERE for city of Milwaukee recycling information.