Waukesha’s New Garbage & Recycling Fee — What Homeowners Need To Know Before the 2025 Deadline

If you live in the City of Waukesha and your garbage and recycling are collected by the City, there’s an important change coming. Starting with the 2026 service year, the City is introducing a $160 annual special charge for garbage and recycling collection.

But here’s the part many residents miss:
 You’ll pay for the 2026 service during 2025.
Payment is due by Friday, November 7, 2025, or it will appear automatically on your 2025 property tax bill (no penalties either way).

The notice was officially published on October 8, 2025, by City Clerk Katie Panella, under Wis. Stat. § 66.0627(3)(a).

 Who This Applies To

This special charge applies to property owners whose garbage and recycling are picked up by the City of Waukesha.

• Included: Single-family homes, duplexes, and multi-unit properties using the City collection.

• Not included: Homes, condos, or apartment buildings that use private waste collection.

If your garbage collection is managed by the City, this notice applies to you.

 What You’ll Pay

The special charge for the 2026 garbage and recycling service is $160 per year.

How the City Calculates It

• $160 per City-issued garbage cart, or

• $160 per unit address if your property gets City pickup but does not use City-issued carts.

Examples

• Single-family home with one City-issued garbage cart → $160.

• Four-unit building with four City-issued garbage carts → $640.

• Four-unit building with manual pickup (no City carts) → $640 ($160 × 4 addresses).

If you bought extra carts directly from John’s Disposal:
The City will not charge a fee for those extra carts, but the $160 per City-issued cart (or per unit address) still applies.

 When & How To Pay

Even though the charge is for the 2026 service year, payment is collected in 2025.

• Due date: Friday, November 7, 2025

• Where: City Treasurer’s Office, City Hall, 201 Delafield Street, open 8:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

• Options:

  • Pay in person at City Hall before November 7.

  • OR let it automatically appear on your 2025 property tax bill—no late fees or penalties for paying it that way.

  Understanding the City’s Decision

This fee isn’t about adding new costs—it’s about restructuring how garbage and recycling are funded.

Like many Wisconsin cities, Waukesha is limited by state levy-limit laws, which cap how much property-tax revenue can rise each year.

• Over the past 12 years, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose about 2.6% annually, but the City’s allowable levy increased only 1.2% per year.

• Costs for labor, fuel, and disposal continue to climb.

• The City already cut $1.3 million from the 2025 budget, with another $3.2 million reduction planned for 2026.

By creating a separate, stable funding stream for garbage and recycling, the City can keep these services running without cutting into police, fire, street maintenance, parks, or library funding.

 Will the $160 Fee Change Every Year?

Possibly. The fee is based on the actual cost of garbage and recycling collection and disposal.

• The City’s contract with John’s Disposal includes roughly a 3% annual increase in costs.

• If those costs rise, the City may adjust the fee accordingly.

• Any change will be clearly announced before property tax bills are issued.

(Example: A 3% increase would be about $4.80, making the next year’s fee $164.80.)

 “Wait—Don’t My Property Taxes Already Cover This?”

Not entirely. When you pay your property taxes:

• Only about 55% stays with the City of Waukesha.

• The rest goes to Waukesha School District, Waukesha County, and WCTC.

The City’s portion covers critical services like police, fire/EMS, public works, parks, and libraries.
With levy limits restricting how much that portion can grow, separating garbage and recycling ensures those services stay funded without raising the general property-tax rate.

 If You’re Buying or Selling in 2025 or 2026

• If you’ve already paid the $160 at City Hall, bring proof to closing so it appears correctly on your settlement statement.

• If it appears on your property tax bill, your title company will prorate it between buyer and seller at closing.

• Landlords and multi-unit owners: Budget $160 per City-issued cart (or per unit address).

• Condos/HOAs with private collection: Likely exempt—confirm with your association or property manager.

 Local Living, Simplified — With The Hupke Team

City updates like this can affect your household budget, rental planning, and even closing costs—and part of our job is making sure you’re never caught off guard.

The Hupke Team closed 121 homes in 2024, totaling over $38 million in sales, and we’re proud to have 120+ five-star Google reviews. Whether you’re budgeting for 2026, buying your first home, or planning your next move, we’ll help you make sense of every detail—big or small.

Do you have questions about how this charge affects your decision to buy or sell? Let’s talk—it’s what we’re here for.