Milwaukee Pauses Garbage, Recycling Collection for Snow Removal

City crews focus on clearing snow-covered streets, postpone leaf collection

Mar. 16, 2026 at 9:49pm

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Milwaukee's Department of Public Works suspended garbage and recycling pickup on Monday, March 16, to allow crews to focus on clearing snow-covered streets across the city. The city also postponed leaf collection until later this week, telling residents to leave their bins and leaves in place until crews can return.

Why it matters

Milwaukee's decision to pause regular waste collection services and redirect resources to snow removal highlights the city's prioritization of public safety and mobility during severe winter weather events. This move aims to ensure that critical transportation routes are cleared efficiently, even if it means temporarily disrupting normal waste management operations.

The details

The city did not declare a snow emergency, meaning legal street parking remains allowed even though curbside lanes may not be fully plowed. Residents whose garbage pickup was scheduled for Monday were told to leave their bins out, with collection expected to resume later in the week as crews become available. Leaf collection was also postponed, with the city advising residents to leave leaves where they are until pickup can resume after the snow melts.

  • The snow response began on Sunday night, with DPW treating roads with 400 pounds of salt per mile starting at 8:00 PM.
  • Garbage and recycling pickup was suspended on Monday, March 16.
  • Leaf collection was postponed until later this week, after the snow has melted.

The players

Jerrel Kruschke

DPW Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee, who provided updates on the snow response efforts.

Milwaukee Department of Public Works (DPW)

The city agency responsible for managing snow removal and waste collection services in Milwaukee.

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What they’re saying

“We started treating at 400 pounds per mile at 8:00 last night. What happened was, because there was a transition early on. So it was rain most of the day. We started salting and getting a little bit of a slick base underneath.”

— Jerrel Kruschke, DPW Commissioner (fox6now.com)

“The commutes in the morning for folks that were going to work, it's a little brutal this morning. As you kind of commute home, even though the winds will be there, the roads are going to look a lot better.”

— Jerrel Kruschke, DPW Commissioner (fox6now.com)

What’s next

Garbage and recycling pickup is expected to resume later this week as crews are able to clear the snow-covered streets. Leaf collection will also restart after the snow has melted.

The takeaway

Milwaukee's decision to prioritize snow removal over regular waste collection services highlights the city's commitment to public safety and mobility during severe winter weather. By temporarily suspending garbage and recycling pickup, the Department of Public Works was able to redirect resources to ensure critical transportation routes were cleared efficiently, demonstrating the city's ability to adapt its operations to address pressing community needs.