Garbage and Recycling

Collection Guidelines

The Sanitation Division of the City of Oshkosh provides Garbage and Recycling collection services to residential customers in residences of four living units or less. Garbage is collected every week and Recycling is collected every other week, separated into A week and B week.

Black-Colored Garbage Cart & Blue-Colored Recycling Cart

  • The property owner of each residence shall purchase the garbage and recycling cart provided by the City of Oshkosh. The property owner will choose the size and number of carts needed for the property. However, one recycling cart is required at each living unit.
  • All regular household waste (no recycling items) shall be placed inside the black garbage cart. Shredded paper should be bagged and then placed inside the garbage cart or taken to a sponsored shredding event.
  • All recycling materials shall be placed loosely (no plastic bags or garbage items) inside the blue recycling cart.
  • Cart lids must be closed, with nothing placed on top of the cart lids when they are out for collection. The weight of each cart cannot exceed 300 pounds.
  • Carts must be set out for collection no later than 5 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. Late set outs will not be collected until your next scheduled collection day. Carts can be placed out for collection no earlier than 4 p.m. the day before your collection day. Carts shall be returned to the proper point of storage within 12 hours after collection.

Placement of Black-Colored Garbage and Blue-Colored Recycling Carts for Collection

  • Always place your cart so that the white serial numbers are facing the street. This places the lid opening in the proper position for emptying.
  • Place your cart on your driveway apron or terrace at ground level so that it is three feet away from obstacles such as other carts, overflow garbage bags, special paid pick ups, parked cars, mail boxes, utility poles, trees and other obstructions. If the terrace is too narrow to place the cart without obstructing the sidewalk, place your cart at the house edge of the sidewalk or driveway apron. Carts must not be placed in the roadway. Improperly placed carts will not be collected.
  • Winter Placement: The best placement is on your driveway apron after you have cleared it of snow. It can also be placed on a cleared area on the street side of the terrace. Do not leave your cart on the sidewalk or on top of a snow bank. Improperly placed carts will not be collected.

Occasional Excess Garbage

If a resident has an occasional need for extra garbage disposal, try one of the following options.

  • Check with a neighbor to see if they have extra room for your waste materials in their cart(s).
  • Hold the excess waste materials for disposal on the next collection week.
  • Take waste for disposal to the Winnebago County Solid Waste/Recycling Transfer Station (Landfill) 920-232-1800, www.winnebagocountysolidwaste.com. Disposal fees may apply.
  • Purchase an additional cart. Additional garbage or recycling carts may be purchased at the Collections Counter at City Hall. Each additional garbage cart will be charged an annual collection fee of $180.00. There are no restrictions on the number of recycling carts collected per living unit.
  • Items that do not fit into the cart may be scheduled as a Special Paid Pick up at the Collections Counter at City Hall, 215 Church Avenue. Once scheduled, the item should be placed at least three feet away from your carts on the terrace or driveway apron, no later than 5 a.m. on your scheduled collection day. The prepaid cost per item is as follows:
    • $25 (each)—Freon Appliances, such as Refrigerators, Freezers, Air Conditioners, Humidifiers, Dehumidifiers (Remove the doors from the Refrigerators and Freezers.)
    • $15 (total)—Non-Freon Appliances and other Metal, such as Dishwashers, Microwaves, Stoves, Washers, Dryers, Water Heaters, Treadmills, Lawn Mowers (gas removed.)
    • $15 (each)—Large Items, such as Couches, Toilets, Dressers, Mattresses, Box Springs, Carpet or Rugs (up to 15 rolls, tied, no longer than four feet in length. Each roll weighing less than 50 pounds.) TVs, other Electronics, and Tires will not be picked up curbside at any time.

Placing Items on the Terrace

All items on the terrace or driveway apron are presumed out for collection by the Sanitation Division. The terrace and driveway apron cannot be used as a pick up location. Items for sale or for free should be placed on the house side of the sidewalk, either on the grass or on the driveway. If the items have not been prepaid as a Special Paid Pick up, the items will be tagged with a Violation Notice. The items must be removed by 5 a.m. of the following work day or the City will collect the items and issue a Violation Invoice for the cost of collection (minimum $25 plus an administrative charge).

Loose Materials

Ashes, sawdust, vacuum cleaner dust, remodeling/construction dust and animal feces, etc. all pose a health hazard to our operators. To protect them, all material must be placed in plastic bags, not less than 2 mm thick. No more than 25 pounds of material shall be placed in each bag. Place the bags in your black garbage cart. Ashes must be cold prior to disposal.