Garbage is collected weekly by GFL. Your collection day depends on your location in Brookfield — use the City’s address lookup tool to confirm your schedule.

Set-out time

• Have trash out and ready for pickup by 7:00 AM on your service day.
• Setting out the night before is a good habit, especially during winter or holiday weeks.

“Up the Drive” pickup

• Brookfield uses “Up the Drive” style pickup — items are placed on your driveway where the driver can access them.
• Trash may be placed anywhere on the driveway, from just outside the garage to the edge of the street.
• Trash will not be picked up from inside the garage.
• Place items where the collection vehicle has a clear path — avoid parking vehicles between the street and the trash set-out area.

Container and bagging rules

• Loose trash must be contained in watertight containers or bagged.
• Residents provide their own garbage cans — up to a maximum of five cans.
• Cans must be 33 gallons or less.
• When using a can, trash must still be in a garbage bag — no loose trash in a can.
• Bags and containers must not exceed 50 lbs each.
• Containers in poor condition must be maintained or replaced by the resident.

Placement and spacing

• Put all trash to be collected together in one place.
• Keep non-collection items at least 10 feet away from trash set out for pickup.
• Keep about 6 feet of clearance from other objects, especially garage doors and parked vehicles, so the driver can safely access the items.

Holiday delays

A one-day delay occurs within the same week if the holiday falls on a weekday:

• New Year’s Day
• Memorial Day
• Fourth of July
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Day
• If the holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, collection happens on the regular day.

Severe weather

• If severe weather interrupts service, collection resumes as soon as possible. Call GFL for rescheduled collection days.

Bulky items and overflow

• Brookfield has separate guidance for bulky items, including what qualifies as bulky waste and how to schedule removal through the waste hauler.
• For large or heavy items, or items that may require scheduling and fees, use the City’s Bulky Items guidance first, then contact GFL.

Quick links

• Find my pickup day by address
• Garbage collection schedule (PDF)
• Residential trash & recyclables collection guidelines (PDF)
• Bulky item collection changes (PDF)
• City trash collection page

Call GFL (262) 367-6040

Brookfield curbside recycling is collected weekly by GFL on the same service day as trash. The City issues a 32-gallon recycling can for each residential property. Recycling must be kept clean and loose — not bagged — so it can be processed properly.

Set-out and service style

• Have recyclables out and ready for pickup by 7:00 AM on your service day.
• Brookfield uses “Up the Drive” style pickup — place recycling on the driveway where the driver has a clear path to it.
• Keep about 6 feet of clearance from parked vehicles and other objects, especially garage doors.

Container rules

• Each residential property (4 units or fewer per building) is issued a 32-gallon recycling can.
• You can use the old blue recycling can in addition to the newer green can.
• Additional green recycling cans are available through the City for a $45 fee.

Accepted curbside materials

Paper products

• Phone books, catalogs, glossy magazines, newspapers
• Beverage cartons and snack cartons
• Paper egg cartons, paper towel rolls, tissue boxes
• Paperback books, cereal boxes, household mail, writing paper
• Frozen food boxes (if not contaminated with food)

Corrugated cardboard

• Unwaxed, clean corrugated cardboard with the waffle core
• Break down boxes and cut to less than 3 feet in any direction
• Place in the recycling container, or bundle and tie with string or twine

Bottles, cans, and jars

• Rinse clean and throw away lids — labels do not need to be removed
• Do not include window glass, ceramic dishes, light bulbs, or drinking glasses

Plastic bottles and containers

• Plastic coded 1, 2, 4, or 5
• Rinse, flatten, and replace caps or lids
• Do not include motor oil, antifreeze, or pesticide bottles, or plastic bags

Metal

• Aluminum cans and clean kitchen foil products; steel or tin cans
• Rinse clean of food — labels do not need to be removed
• Do not include empty aerosol cans, pots and pans, scrap metal, or clothes hangers

Most common recycling mistakes to avoid

• Bagging recyclables in plastic bags
• Leaving food or liquid residue in containers
• Tossing in glass that is not a bottle or jar (drinking glasses, window glass)
• Including plastics that are not coded 1, 2, 4, or 5

Quick links

• Residential recycling requirements & cart info
• Curbside recycling guide (PDF)
• City Recycle Center — hours & accepted materials
• City recycling page

Call (262) 782-5029

Brookfield does not provide routine curbside brush or yard waste pickup. For most yard debris, the standard option is to bring it to the City Recycle Center, or hire a contractor who hauls it to an approved facility. Planning this ahead of time is important, especially if your project creates debris that you cannot store for long.

City Recycle Center drop-off

• Open Saturdays year-round, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• Open Tuesdays and Thursdays, April through November, 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
• Proof of residency is required for entry
• The City does not accept yard waste from contractors at the Recycle Center

Vehicle and load limits

• Dump trucks are not allowed
• Trucks larger than a pickup are not allowed
• Trailers larger than 8 ft by 10 ft are not allowed
• Secure yard waste loads so nothing falls out during transport

Free resident materials (when available)

• Wood chips
• Composted yard waste
• Logs

Alternative options for yard debris

• Chip or compost yard waste at home
• Hire a contractor to haul yard waste to a facility that accepts it

Seasonal open burning rules

• Brookfield allows open burning of yard waste only under specific conditions.
• Permitted days and months are limited, with restrictions on wind, air quality, location, and pile size — review City rules before burning.

Christmas tree pickup

• Brookfield provides curbside pickup for natural Christmas trees in January — placed at the edge of the roadway.
• The City makes two rounds picking up trees in January. Set your tree out by the curb by 7:00 AM on the pickup day.
• You may also drop off at the City Recycle Center, or cut trees into 4 ft. pieces and place at the roadside for solid waste contractor pickup.
• Crews will not enter driveways. Do not bury the tree in snow.
• Remove all wire, nails, metal, and plastic bags before setting out.
• Wreaths (often tied with wire) should go in regular household garbage.

Quick links

• City Recycle Center — hours & accepted materials
• Open burning rules
• Christmas tree pickup information
• Yard waste & recycling FAQs

Call (262) 782-5029