Recycling Center and Trash Information

Recycling Center

Accepted Items

Anti-freeze (used), appliances (stoves, refrigerators, washers, dryers, microwaves, dehumidifiers, water heaters, etc ), car batteries, yard waste (including grass clippings!), cans, cardboard (must be flattened and under 4’ by 3’), dirt and sod, glass (no windows or mirrors), bottles, paper, motor oil (used), plastic (Number 1,2 & 5), scrap metal (motors must be drained of gas and oil)

Cardboard recycling is picked up weekly and may be full at various times throughout the year. To recycle large amounts of cardboard, we recommend that you contact John’s Disposal at 262-473-4700 to schedule a free bulk item pickup from your driveway instead of bringing it to the Recycling Center.

The Recycling Center has compost, woodchips and firewood available for New Berlin residents at no charge. Compost and Woodchips can be loaded by the City (using a loader) between 10 AM and 1:30 PM on Tuesdays and Thursdays during summer--subject to availability. A loading waiver MUST first be obtained at the Streets office at 16550 W. National Ave., or at City Hall.

Items Not Accepted

Computers, TVs, electronics, household batteries, propane tanks, carpeting, mattresses, styrofoam, furniture, lumber, landscape ties, ashes, rocks, roots, stumps, hazardous materials (paints, cleaners, gas, etc), tires, concrete, cooking oils, construction debris, bricks, windows, mirrors. Please contact Johns Disposal at 262-473-4700 for proper disposal.

The Recycling Center no longer accepts used clothing. Donation boxes are prohibited per municipal code § 275-24

For a comprehensive list, please refer to the 2024 Recycle Center Information flyer below.

Attention Contractors: Effective May 13, 2020

Starting May 13, 2020, the City of New Berlin has suspended sales of Recycling Center Contractor Load Permits. All previously issued permits will be honored. The following requirements remain:

All contractors must be a New Berlin business. All yard waste must be from New Berlin properties. They will be required to sign a form and show proof that their business is located in New Berlin and that the yard waste they are dumping is from New Berlin properties only. Contractors are required to see the attendant prior to unloading to have their cards punched for each load.

Please keep in mind: recycling is an evolving industry, and therefore this information is subject to change.

Yard Waste

The recycling center accepts branches, wood, leaves, grass clippings, and garden or flower plant debris.

Try Grasscycling - leaving grass clippings on the lawn to decompose. Grass clippings are mostly water. When you mow regularly, clippings quickly decompose and release nutrients to fertilize the lawn. Research shows that when clippings are left on the lawn, one-third less fertilizer is needed to achieve the same color and grass density found on lawns where the clippings are removed. For ideas please check out this Grasscycling link.

Invasive species, such as garlic mustard, should be placed in a clear plastic bag, labeled "Garlic Mustard" or "Invasive Weed" and placed in your trash cart for pickup.

Please keep in mind: recycling is an evolving industry and therefore this information is subject to change.

For waste reduction tips visit the Recycle More Wisconsin website.