About the Solid Waste Division
The Solid Waste Division provides curb/alley collection of solid waste and recycling on a weekly schedule for approximately 28,000 households. Solid waste and recycling collection is provided to single-family, four-family or fewer multiple unit dwellings, churches, service stations, on-street businesses and schools, except Unified School District buildings.
The City is divided into five collection days, Monday through Friday, with seven 2-man crews servicing each area. Solid waste is never disrupted due to weather, however collection days may be altered due to holidays.
Racine's Recycling Program has been in existence since 1974 when the "Green Racine" newspaper recycling program began. In 1995 the "Blue Bag" recycling program started with the curb/alley collection of glass, plastic, aluminum and steel containers. Since then, cardboard, chipboard, magazines and empty aerosol cans were added to the program. In 2010, the “Recycle Cart” program started which allows for all recyclable items to be placed in the cart for collection every 2 weeks.
Collection Schedules & Map
All Department of Public Works collections are scheduled on the same days of the week, every week.
Solid Waste Collection Map
Independence Day Collection Schedule Notice 2017
Labor Day Collection Schedule Notice 2017
Remember
Solid waste/recycling material shall be placed at the curb, or within 10 feet of the alley line no later than 7:00 a.m. of the scheduled collection day, and no sooner than 15 hours before 7:00 a.m. (4 p.m. of the day before your collection day). All containers shall be removed by 7:00 p.m. of the day of collection.
Christmas Tree Collections For two weeks during the month of January, the Department of Public Works will collect Christmas trees at the curbline. Residents should watch the local newspaper for the schedule published after the New Year. All decorations must be removed from the trees before placing at the CURBLINE for collection. There is no alley collection of Christmas trees.
Regulations
City of Racine Municipal Code for Solid Waste Regulations
General
Solid waste collections shall be limited to single-family residences, four-family or less multiple dwelling units, churches, service stations, on-street businesses, and schools, except buildings owned by Unified School District No. 1.
Placement
Solid waste material shall be placed at the curb, and/or within 10 feet of the alley line no later than 7:00 a.m. of the scheduled collection day, and no sooner than 15 hours before 7:00 a.m. (4:00 p.m. of the day before your collection day). All containers shall be removed from the curb or alley line within 12 hours after collection.
Containers
Each resident will be provided with a container to use by the City of Racine, no other container will be collected for solid waste collection.See our automated collection page for more information.
Other Types of Waste Material Collected
Starting September 18th, 2017. Furniture, windows and screens, bed springs, pipes, and antennas maximum length of 4 feet), small quantities of demolition, and/or construction material will no longer be collected with your regular solid waste collection. See our automated collection page for more information.
Specially Prepared Items
Starting September 18th, 2017. Branches/shrubbery/brush and wood will no longer be collected with your regular solid waste collection.See our automated collection page for more information.
Paint
Pack can with absorbent material such as dry kitty litter, sand, or sawdust in sufficient quantity to soak up the liquid. Leave lid off of can and place on curb/alley line for collection.
Rugs and Mattresses
Starting September 18th, 2017. These items will no longer be collected with your regular solid waste collection.See our automated collection page for more information.
Animal Waste
Wrap in newspaper and place in a moisture-proof container.
Ashes
Cold ashes only! Place in polyethylene plastic bags and tie securely.
Waste Material Not Collected
Vehicle waste and/or parts, rugs and mattresses, trees, branches, tree stumps, hazardous, toxic, medical waste including sharps, nauseous and/or offensive waste, excessive quantities of demolition and/or construction material.
Major appliances (white goods), leaves, grass clippings, waste oil, waste tires, and automotive batteries. Any type of solid waste not prepared properly.
Wisconsin's mandatory recycling law requires residents to separate recyclable materials from regular solid waste.
Holiday Collection Schedule
Holidays will have an effect on the Department of Public Works solid waste/recycling collections during the year. Because holidays fall on different days of the week, no set rule can be followed to determine how the collection will be affected. Please watch the newspaper for published alterations to collection schedules around each holiday or call the Department of Public Works at 636-9126.
HOLIDAYS
New Years, Spring Break, Memorial Day
4th of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas
If your trash pickup day falls on one of these days there will be no solid waste or recycling pickup on that day. Your garbage pickup will resume the next day provided that is also not a holiday. Your recycling pickup will also resume on the next business day again unless this is a holiday.
PLEASE check your calendar sent out every January for the alternate dates provided.
If you have any questions please dont hesitate to call us directly to ask!
CLICK HERE to look up your Garbage / Recycling collection schedule by address!
Pearl Street
Click here for the Pearl Street Page,
Leaf Collection
Click here for the Leaf Collection Schedule
Snow Note:
- Collection of leaves will be suspended in the event of snowfall. Collection will resume ON SCHEDULE when weather permits.
REMEMBER:
- By City Ordinance, residents are allowed to rake leaves into the gutters only during the time between September 15 and November 30.
- DO NOT rake leaves into alleys.
- DO NOT place leaves in bags or containers.
