johns-disposal-truck-2


The City of Fort Atkinson started its contract with John's Disposal on January 1, 2026.

Garbage collection occurs weekly, and recycling collection occurs biweekly, with both being collected on the same day. Bulky items are not automatically included with garbage collections and need to be scheduled with John's Disposal by calling 262-473-4700 or office@johnsdisposal.com. Collection days in Fort Atkinson will be Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.




John's Disposal does not collect on the following holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day when they fall on a normal collection day.

Cart Placement

Garbage and recycling carts should be placed with handles and wheels facing away from the street. The carts should be placed in a location accessible to the truck, ideally at the end of a driveway with at least 3 feet of clearance on each side, and not placed underneath any overhead hazards or enclosures. Carts need to be out by 6 a.m. on the day of garbage/recycling pickup.

Garbage Collection

John's Disposal will collect garbage weekly. Place trash in the brown garbage cart.

What can go in my garbage?

  • Bagged garbage
  • Food waste
  • Styrofoam
  • Plastic wrap
  • Plastic bags
  • Broken toys
  • Ceramics
  • Light bulbs
  • Hoses
  • Christmas Lights

What cannot go in my garbage?

  • No yard materials (it is illegal to put yard materials in the recycling or trash)
  • No recyclables
  • No household hazardous waste
  • No cardboard boxes (these should be recycled if clean)
  • No electronics
  • No rechargeable batteries

Recycling Collection

John's Disposal will collect recycling every other week. Put recycling in the green cart. Items should be loose (not bagged) when placed in the recycling bin.


What can go in my recycling?

  • Cans—aluminum, tin, and steel cans (emptied and rinsed)
  • Clean aluminum foil
  • Empty aerosol cans
  • Empty dried paint cans
  • Cartons—food and beverage cartons & containers (emptied and rinsed)
  • Glass—bottles and jars (emptied and rinsed; no metal lids)
  • Paper—cereal boxes, newspapers, magazines, mail, flattened cardboard, paper tubes, wrapping paper without metallic accents, etc.
  • Plastics—kitchen/laundry/bath bottles and containers (#1-#7)
  • Aseptic containers 

What cannot go in my recycling?

  • No styrofoam of any kind
  • No yard materials (it is illegal to put yard materials in the recycling or trash)
  • No extra garbage (it is illegal to put garbage into the recycling)
  • No household hazardous waste
  • No clothing
  • No batteries (or any product containing a battery, like a musical greeting card)
  • No propane cylinders or other compressed cylinders
  • No electronics
  • No plastic bags
  • No random scrap metal (only aluminum or steel cans listed above)
  • No random plastics (only the basic containers listed above)
  • No random glass (only basic jars and bottles listed above)
  • No tanglers (no hoses, ropes, cords, etc.)
  • No sharps

Bulky items

Call John's Disposal to schedule bulk items at 262-473-4700 or office@johnsdisposal.com. Residents may schedule up to one bulk pickup a month, but there is no limit to the number of items. Residents must call to schedule the pickup. 

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. 

E-Waste

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. **Fees may apply.** The City also has an electronic waste trailer at the Compost Site, available on Wednesday from 3 pm to sunset and Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm.

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.