Milwaukee apartment owners, asset managers, and on-site teams: keep your communities aligned with Wisconsin’s multifamily recycling rules while giving residents the clean, convenient valet trash & recycling service they expect. National Doorstep’s valet trash & recycling program is engineered to support compliance with Wisconsin Statutes Chapter 287, Wis. Adm. Code ch. NR 544, and the City of Milwaukee’s Solid Waste Regulations (Chapter 79) for buildings with 5 or more dwelling units.
Across the City of Milwaukee and every municipality in Milwaukee County, owners and property managers of multiple-family dwellings with 5+ units must provide residents with access to recycling, maintain separate containers, and give written recycling information at move-in and at least twice per year. As of July 1, 2025, Wisconsin’s recycling rule revisions also expect multifamily properties to pair trash and recycling containers and provide around 20 gallons per week of recycling capacity per dwelling unit or maintain a trash-to-recycling volume ratio of no more than 2:1, so enclosures stay out of “overflow risk” during inspections.
- Protect NOI & Asset Value: Reduce the risk of municipal citations, special charges, and repeat inspections by aligning your program with Wis. Stat. ch. 287 and Milwaukee’s Chapter 79 solid waste regulations.
- Resident-First Convenience: Doorstep service that keeps residents out of dark enclosures, reduces trips to dumpsters, and supports renewals and online reputation.
- Code-Smart Design: Container layouts, labels, and service frequencies designed around Wisconsin’s updated Responsible Unit (RU) recycling specifications for multifamily properties.
- Hands-Off Compliance: We coordinate haulers, resident education, and documentation so your team can stay focused on leasing and day-to-day operations.
At a Glance: City of Milwaukee vs. Milwaukee County Cities & Villages
City of Milwaukee (Inside City Limits)
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling for multifamily and commercial properties under state law and Milwaukee Code of Ordinances Chapter 79.
- Applicability Threshold: Applies to “multiple-family dwellings” with 5 or more dwelling units and to commercial buildings. Owners and property managers that do not use city collection must provide recycling and solid waste service privately.
- Owner / Property Manager Duties: Provide an adequate amount of recycling collection service for residents; maintain separate, clearly labeled containers for recyclables; keep container areas reasonably clean; and ensure service levels and container volumes prevent overflow between collections.
- State-Level Duties: Under Wisconsin law, owners or property managers must provide separate containers, arrange collection and delivery to a recycling facility, and notify residents in writing at the time of renting and at least semi-annually thereafter about how to use the recycling program.
- Capacity & Container Ratio (2025 DNR Update): Pair each trash container with a recycling container and either provide at least 20 gallons per week of recycling container space per dwelling unit, keep trash-to-recycling volume at 2:1 or less, or use an alternative design that avoids recycling container overflow between pickups.
- Key City & State Links: Milwaukee Recycles – Official Site · Business & Apartment Recycling (5+ Units) · Recycling Guide for Apartments & Businesses (PDF) · Wisconsin Statutes – Chapter 287 (Recycling Law)
Milwaukee County Cities & Villages
- Mandate Type: Mandatory recycling through state law + local RU ordinances. Milwaukee County is fully incorporated, so every resident lives in a city or village that participates in a Responsible Unit (RU) recycling program.
- Applicability Threshold: In every municipality, multiple-family dwellings with 5+ units fall under the state multifamily recycling requirements. Local ordinances mirror or incorporate these requirements.
- Program Duties: Provide adequate recycling containers, pair trash and recycling containers under the updated RU specifications, and ensure container volume and service frequency prevent overflow. Maintain written resident education and keep collection areas clean and accessible.
- Risk Profile: Even outside the City of Milwaukee, properties can face local citations, special charges, or enforcement action when recycling and trash areas are overflowing, unsanitary, or out of step with RU program expectations.
- How National Doorstep Helps: We design valet trash & recycling programs that meet or exceed Wisconsin’s multifamily requirements and are ready to plug into the RU expectations in every Milwaukee County municipality.
- Key State & RU Links: Wisconsin DNR – Responsible Unit Recycling Programs · DNR Recycling Rule Revisions (2025 Slides) · DNR Guide for Owners of Apartments & Multifamily Buildings
Milwaukee County Cities & Villages & Apartment Recycling Mandates
All 19 municipalities in Milwaukee County operate under Wisconsin’s recycling law and RU framework. That means owners and property managers of multiple-family dwellings with 5 or more dwelling units must provide residents with recycling access, separate containers, and written information. The City of Milwaukee has the most visible apartment-specific guidance, but the same core multifamily recycling duties apply across every city and village listed below.
| Municipality | Apartment Recycling Mandate? | Notes for Owners & Property Managers |
|---|---|---|
| Milwaukee (City) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Owners and property managers of residential buildings with 5+ units must provide adequate recycling collection service for residents, maintain separate and labeled containers, and give written recycling information at move-in and at least twice per year. Larger multifamily properties that do not receive city collection must contract private haulers but still meet state and Chapter 79 expectations. Key local links: Business & Apartment Recycling (City of Milwaukee) |
| West Allis | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
As a Responsible Unit, West Allis must enforce state multifamily recycling requirements. Smaller residential parcels receive city collection; larger apartment communities typically contract private haulers but must still provide adequate recycling container capacity, pair trash and recycling containers, and provide written resident education under Wisconsin law and the city’s recycling ordinance. Key local links: City of West Allis – Official Site |
| Wauwatosa | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Wauwatosa’s RU program and solid waste ordinance incorporate state multifamily recycling rules. City carts and routes primarily serve smaller residential buildings; most larger apartment properties coordinate directly with haulers but remain responsible for providing separate recycling containers, adequate capacity, and ongoing resident communication. Key local links: City of Wauwatosa – Official Site |
| Greenfield | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Greenfield notes that city trash and recycling service is provided to single-family homes, apartments under 5 units, and some condominiums. Larger multifamily communities are treated as commercial/multifamily customers and must self-contract recycling, while still following state requirements for multifamily container capacity and written resident education. Key local links: City of Greenfield – Official Site |
| Oak Creek | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Oak Creek’s residents are served through a mix of city service and contracted haulers. Apartment communities are generally treated as commercial customers, meaning property managers must arrange recycling service, provide adequate containers, and maintain enclosure cleanliness to comply with RU and state law expectations. Key local links: City of Oak Creek – Official Site |
| Franklin | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Franklin’s recycling ordinance, based on Wisconsin’s model RU language, requires owners of multiple-family dwellings to provide recycling containers, arrange for collection, and notify occupants in writing at least semi-annually. City collection serves select residential classes; most larger apartment communities use private haulers under the same state-driven multifamily requirements. Key local links: City of Franklin – Official Site |
| Cudahy | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Cudahy’s recycling and refuse programs follow Wisconsin RU rules. Apartment communities are expected to provide recycling containers and adequate service levels, often via commercial haulers, and to maintain dumpster and cart areas free from overflow and nuisance conditions. Key local links: City of Cudahy – Official Site |
| South Milwaukee | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
South Milwaukee’s “Recycling, Refuse Collection and Self-Deposit Station” ordinance includes requirements for multiple dwellings to provide proper containers and maintain clean collection areas. Multifamily buildings must implement recycling consistent with state multifamily rules and local enforcement practices. Key local links: City of South Milwaukee – Official Site |
| St. Francis | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
St. Francis participates in regional solid-waste and recycling planning. Under Wisconsin’s RU requirements, apartment communities in St. Francis must provide residents with access to recycling and follow state container and education standards, even when service is provided via private haulers. Key local links: City of St. Francis – Official Site |
| Glendale | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Glendale’s utility and public works materials distinguish multifamily residential customers. Property managers must ensure that multiple-family dwellings participate in an effective recycling program with separate containers, sufficient capacity, and ongoing resident education, consistent with RU obligations. Key local links: City of Glendale – Official Site |
| Bayside (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Bayside participates in regional recycling efforts and is listed among Milwaukee County municipalities. Apartment communities, including any within Bayside’s Milwaukee County footprint, must provide recycling containers, adequate capacity, and written resident information under Wisconsin’s multifamily rules. Key local links: Village of Bayside – Official Site |
| Brown Deer (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Brown Deer’s RU program incorporates state multifamily recycling requirements. Multifamily properties typically use contracted haulers; owners and property managers remain responsible for container separation, capacity, and resident education. Key local links: Village of Brown Deer – Official Site |
| Fox Point (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
In Fox Point, multifamily properties are treated as part of the RU recycling system. Property managers should provide paired trash/recycling containers, adequate volume, and clear instructions so residents can easily recycle and enclosures remain inspection-ready. Key local links: Village of Fox Point – Official Site |
| Greendale (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Greendale’s solid-waste and recycling rules align with Wisconsin RU requirements. Apartment communities work with haulers to set up recycling, but the legal obligation to provide containers, adequate service, and resident education sits with the owner or property manager. Key local links: Village of Greendale – Official Site |
| Hales Corners (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Hales Corners participates in county and regional recycling initiatives. Apartment properties must ensure that residents have access to recycling containers and that these containers are serviced frequently enough to avoid overflow, in line with RU specifications. Key local links: Village of Hales Corners – Official Site |
| River Hills (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
While River Hills is primarily low-density, any multiple-family dwelling in the village still falls under the same Wisconsin multifamily recycling rules: provide containers, arrange collection, and communicate clearly with residents. Key local links: Village of River Hills – Official Site |
| Shorewood (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Shorewood’s sustainability and recycling programs set high expectations for waste diversion. Multifamily communities are expected to provide robust recycling options that match state RU rules, including paired containers and adequate per-unit capacity. Key local links: Village of Shorewood – Official Site |
| West Milwaukee (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
West Milwaukee is listed among Milwaukee County municipalities and participates in RU recycling. Apartment communities must support recycling with separate containers, sufficient volume, and ongoing education to residents under state law and local ordinance. Key local links: Village of West Milwaukee – Official Site |
| Whitefish Bay (Village) | Yes – Multifamily recycling required |
Whitefish Bay’s North Shore setting means strong expectations for waste reduction and clean enclosures. Owners and property managers of multiple-family dwellings must ensure residents have convenient access to recycling and that service levels meet RU guidelines. Key local links: Village of Whitefish Bay – Official Site |
Milwaukee Multifamily Recycling: Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Municipal Citations & Forfeitures: Violations of Milwaukee’s solid waste and recycling regulations, or of a municipality’s RU recycling ordinance, can result in municipal citations and monetary forfeitures. In many cases, each day a violation continues may be treated as a separate offense under the municipality’s general penalty provisions.
- Special Charges & Service Fees: If a city or village must address overflowing containers, illegal dumping, or repeated contamination, the costs of cleanup or extra collection can be charged back to the property as a special charge or fee on the tax bill or utility account.
- RU & DNR Oversight: Because each municipality must maintain an “effective recycling program” as an RU, chronic non-compliance at multifamily properties can trigger heightened local enforcement and added attention from the Wisconsin DNR during RU program reviews.
- Documentation as Risk Management: Keeping written recycling plans, service agreements, container inventories, photos of enclosures, and copies of resident communications helps show that ownership and the property manager are working in good faith to meet Wisconsin and local requirements.
- Compliance Tip: Regularly review container counts and volumes against current occupancy and the RU’s capacity guidance, especially the 2025 expectations for paired containers and ~20 gallons/week per dwelling unit, so you are ready for both scheduled and complaint-driven inspections.
Milwaukee Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
| Task | Action / Requirement | Helpful Links |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm Jurisdiction & Unit Count | Verify that your community is within the City of Milwaukee or another Milwaukee County municipality and confirm your total dwelling units. If you have 5 or more dwelling units, Wisconsin’s multifamily recycling requirements apply, and in the City of Milwaukee you are expected to follow Chapter 79 and the Milwaukee Recycles multifamily guidance. | Milwaukee Recycles – Program Overview · Wis. Stat. ch. 287 |
| ☑ Pair Trash & Recycling Containers | For each trash container accessible to residents, provide a paired recycling container. Check that your site design complies with updated RU expectations: recycling containers paired with trash, container locations that are as convenient as trash, and clear labels to minimize contamination. | DNR – Responsible Units · RU Recycling Rule Slides (2025) |
| ☑ Meet Minimum Capacity Targets | Size your recycling containers and service schedule so that residents have approximately 20 gallons per week of recycling container space per dwelling unit or a trash-to-recycling volume ratio of 2:1 or less. Adjust for seasonal occupancy, bulky cardboard, and move-in / move-out turnover. | DNR Capacity Guidance (Slides) |
| ☑ Provide Written Resident Education | At move-in and at least twice per year, provide residents with clear written instructions on what can be recycled, how to prepare materials, where containers are located, and any valet collection rules (e.g., bag type, set-out times, contamination policies). | DNR Guide for Apartment Owners & Managers · Milwaukee Apartment Recycling Guide (PDF) |
| ☑ Coordinate Haulers & Service Levels | Confirm that your hauler provides both trash and recycling service at frequencies that match resident behavior. For City of Milwaukee properties with private collection, make sure your contract specifies recycling container counts, sizes, and pickup days that align with RU capacity expectations. | Milwaukee Recycles – Business & Multi-Family · DNR RU Contacts |
| ☑ Document Your Recycling Plan | Maintain a concise site recycling plan covering container locations, sizes, materials accepted, service frequency, hauler contact, contamination protocols, and resident communication steps. Keep digital copies for quick sharing with inspectors, owners, and regional managers. | DNR – Basic Requirements for RU Recycling Programs |
| ☑ Monitor Enclosures & Overflow | Have on-site teams or National Doorstep valets photograph and log container conditions. If recycling or trash is frequently overflowing before pickup, increase container size, add containers, or adjust service frequency to avoid citations and resident complaints. | Milwaukee Recycles – Report a Problem |
Want Milwaukee-ready, inspector-proof multifamily recycling? Request a Free Compliance Audit for your Milwaukee County property. We’ll review your current setup, right-size containers and service, design a resident-friendly valet trash & recycling program, and prepare the documentation you need to show alignment with Wisconsin’s multifamily recycling requirements and Milwaukee-area RU expectations.
Interested in talking about how we can work together? Here's our contact info.
