FAQ's for John's Disposal Service starting Jan. 1, 2026

The total cost for garbage and recycling collection service in 2025 is about $795,000. This was included in the property tax levy, so all property owners paid a portion depending on their property values. The new contract is based on a unit count (those who use the service, instead of everyone) and is estimated to be about $915,000, or $231.00 per unit with an estimated 3,959 units.
The City entered into a new, more expensive contract with John’s Disposal as of January 1, 2026. Due to levy limits, the City’s tax levy is not able to cover the cost of the new contract. State law allows the City to reduce the levy and put these fees onto the tax bill for those who are receiving the service.
Not necessarily. In the past, garbage and recycling has been paid for using levied tax dollars, which means that all property owners are paying for the service even though not all of them receive it. The current and the new contract provide service for residential buildings with between 1 and 4 units and commercial businesses that only need regular carts. All other businesses, commercial, and industrial buildings contract with a private company for service. In the past, the businesses were paying for collection through property taxes and through a private contract for service. The users paying for the service they receive is more equitable for everyone.
Yes, it is likely to increase annually as the cost of services, fuel, wages, benefits, and landfill tipping fees continue to increase. The contract with John’s includes a 3.5% annual increase.
The City only has control over about 35% of the property tax bill, so staff cannot be sure that it will increase or decrease year to year. However, the City’s portion of the property tax bill is expected to decrease slightly in 2025 in part due to this change.

Garbage will continue to be collected weekly, and recycling will be collected every other week.

Yes, John’s will offer monthly bulky item pick-up, provided the resident calls to schedule it in advance at 262-473-4700.

Each residence may call and schedule up to one bulk pickup per month at no additional cost. Each scheduled pickup may include multiple items.

Bulk collection includes:

  • Furniture,
  • Appliances (white goods including freon),
  • Bedding,
  • Carpeting
  • Other large items.
  • Waste oil
  • Automotive antifreeze
  • Lead acid batteries
  • Tires, limited to 8 small vehicle tires (sedan, SUV, pickup trucks, etc.) per home per year.
  • Extra household garbage in resident-owned cans and extra recycling in bins or clear plastic bags are also included in the bulk collection.
  • Construction materials that are contained in 32- gallon cans (no limit on the number of cans) that weigh less than 60-pounds are included in the bulk items collection. No loose construction materials are included. 
  • Electronic recycling is also included in bulk pickup. There is a maximum of one electronic per pickup in place of a bulk garbage or recycling item. Residents can recycle up to twelve electronics per year. 

Household electronics are included with bulk collection – a maximum of one electronic per pickup in place of bulk garbage or recycling items, up to twelve electronics per year.

Residential bulk items collection services are for waste generated on the property receiving services – it may not be combined with neighbors' or contractor waste. This service shall not be used as a substitute for full-scale remodeling projects, natural disaster relief, or any such event that would place a substantial burden on the Contractor to perform services other than those for which this program is intended.

There isn't an easy answer to that question because every property owner in the City was paying for the service, including those who could not use it. In the past, garbage and recycling were paid for using levied tax dollars, which means that all property owners were paying for the service even though not all of them received it.

The current and the new contract provide service for residential buildings with between 1 and 4 units and commercial businesses that only produce the same amount of garbage as a single-family home. All other businesses, commercial, and industrial buildings contract with a private service company. The users paying for the service they receive is more equitable for everyone.

Regulations for Permanent Refuse Enclosures (for certain uses)

For certain established property types, exterior trash storage areas, which would include dumpsters, must be contained within a permanently maintained enclosure. These requirements apply to multi-family, institutional, commercial, multiple use buildings, and industrial uses.

  • Enclosure Requirement: All exterior trash storage areas must be located within an enclosure at least 6 feet in height that completely screens the view of all trash and trash storage containers.
  • Accessory Structure Regulations: When considered an accessory structure, a Refuse Enclosure is permitted in the side yard and rear yard. All dumpsters in these contexts must be screened on three sides with a solid fence or wall 6 feet in height.
  • Enclosure Materials: The exterior of the enclosure must be constructed of solid wood that matches or is complementary to the exterior of the principal building, or be made of one or more materials used on the exterior of the main building.
  • Gate Requirement: A solid gate must be used for access to the storage area; this gate shall be constructed of an opaque material or interwoven slat fencing.
  • Location Restriction: Exterior trash storage or dumpsters shall not be located between a building and a public street.  An exception may be granted by the Zoning Administrator if no other suitable location is available, provided the area is developed to minimize its appearance from the public street.
  • Applicability in Specific Districts: A Refuse Enclosure is listed as an accessory use permitted as a conditional use in the Downtown Historic Mixed-Use (DHMU) Zoning District and as an accessory use permitted by right in the Downtown Periphery Mixed-Use (DPMU) Zoning District.

John's Disposal Dumpster rentals.

Contact John's Disposal directly to set up the service by calling 262-473-4700. The cost of an extra garbage cart is $10 a month, and for a recycling cart, the cost is $7.25 a month billed through John's Disposal. 
Contact the City of Fort Atkinson by emailing refuse@fortatkinsonwi.gov or calling 920-397-9901.
If you move to a new location in the City of Fort Atkinson there is no need to set up a new service unless you are building a new single-family home. Garbage and Recycling carts stay with the property and are not moved. The property you are moving to if it is in the City will have carts and will also be included in the residential garbage contract. 
John's Disposal will deliver the largest size carts for garbage and recycling before the first of the year. After John's takes over on Jan. 1, 2026, residents may call John's Disposal to request a smaller container at 262-473-4700. 
GFL will take the cans away starting December 31, 2025. Leave the old cans by the curb for them to be collected.
No. Garbage and recycling in the City of Fort Atkinson have never been charged on customers' utility bills. It was previously included in the City's tax levy.