1 cu yd
free bulky waste per regular collection, about a recliner, no request needed
$75
Special Pickup for 1 to 4 cubic yards ($225 for 4 to 6)
2
Drop-Off Centers for appliances, electronics, and tires, seasonal Tuesday to Sunday
Every route for a grill in Milwaukee, checked in October 2026 against the city’s current rules and the drop-off sites named. The full Milwaukee guide covers every other item.
Here is how each route works in Milwaukee, starting with the city program and ending with paid pickup.
Milwaukee bulky item pickup: grills
Free, with a step firstA grill fits the free bulky allowance. The propane tank goes to an MMSD hazardous waste site or an exchange.
Who qualifies: Properties with City of Milwaukee Sanitation Services collection (generally 1 to 4 units). Larger buildings with private haulers are not eligible.
How to schedule: No appointment for up to 1 cubic yard (about a recliner or two garbage carts): set it at your regular collection point on your regular day. More than that is a Special Pickup for a fee, requested online or at 414-286-CITY: $75 for 1 to 4 cubic yards, $225 for 4 to 6. Project Clean and Green gives each zone one free larger pickup each spring.
Limits: 1 cubic yard free per regular collection. Fees above that. Yard waste, electronics, appliances, and tires are not bulky waste and go to a Drop-Off Center.
Set-out: At your regular collection point on your regular collection day, not blocking the alley or sidewalk. Items left out on other days are a code violation.
MMSD household hazardous waste collection: grills
FreePropane accepted.
Where: Year-round drop-off sites and mobile collections across Milwaukee County
How it works: Free for residents. Paint, chemicals, batteries, propane, and other hazardous waste.
Freemoval (free pickups through partner organizations)
FreeFreemoval funds free junk removal and cleanouts for households referred by trusted partner organizations, such as nonprofits, housing programs, and senior services. Families don’t apply directly. A partner submits the request and vouches for the need.
Status in Milwaukee: Not yet available. Freemoval currently serves metro Atlanta and plans to expand nationwide.
How it works where it operates: One free pickup per household, covering grills, furniture, appliances, and bulk household items within standard LoadUp marketplace service. Funded by LoadUp customer round-ups and direct contributions, spent at standard LoadUp rates.
If you run a nonprofit or housing program in Milwaukee: you can start the conversation now through the For partners page.
Milwaukee runs an unusually accessible weekly bulk system for the Midwest: 1 cubic yard of bulky items (about the size of a recliner or two garbage carts) can be put at your regular collection point for pickup on your regular collection day, no online request, no City call needed. Plus, Project Clean & Green is the City’s annual spring bulk program: from approximately April 20-June 1, each zone gets one designated week when residents can place up to 6 cubic yards per property, including unwanted furniture, mattresses, household items, and yard waste in BROWN paper bags. Critical caveat: mattresses, large appliances (washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators, AC units), and electronics (TVs, computers, monitors) require PREPAID DISPOSAL STICKERS before placement, placing without a sticker may result in code enforcement notice or fine. Drop-Off Centers operate seasonally (Tuesday-Sunday 7 AM-3 PM, approximately April-November). Service is for 1-4 unit dwellings only, apartment buildings (5+ units) and businesses must use private haulers. This page walks through every legitimate option in order from free to paid.
The Milwaukee rule for grills: A grill fits the free bulky allowance. The propane tank goes to an MMSD hazardous waste site or an exchange.
Program basics: 1 cubic yard free per regular collection. Fees above that. Yard waste, electronics, appliances, and tires are not bulky waste and go to a Drop-Off Center. At your regular collection point on your regular collection day, not blocking the alley or sidewalk. Items left out on other days are a code violation.
What the city will not take: Appliances, electronics and TVs, tires, yard waste (except Project Clean and Green), household hazardous waste, and construction and demolition waste, which needs a prepaid request or a Drop-Off Center.
How we checked this. The rules on this page were verified in October 2026 against: City of Milwaukee Sanitation: Bulky Item Pickup Guidelines, City of Milwaukee Sanitation: Violations and fees. Programs change; confirm fees and limits before you go.
Hazardous and regulated components in Milwaukee. Milwaukee residents have free hazardous waste disposal through the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) Home Hazmat Collection program. MMSD operates 3 permanent collection sites plus 1-day drop-off events throughout Milwaukee County. All available to Milwaukee County residents free of charge. Confirmed 2026 event: MLK Jr. School, April 18, 2026. Visit mmsd.com/home-hazmat-collection for current sites and event schedule. Wisconsin-specific notes: Latex paint can be dried completely (add kitty litter to speed drying) and placed in regular garbage. Single-use alkaline batteries CAN go in regular garbage per Wisconsin DNR. Several retailers also offer ongoing free recycling: Home Depot for batteries and CFL bulbs, AutoZone for motor oil and car batteries, Best Buy for electronics, most pharmacies for unused medications.
Why grills are different from ordinary bulk. The propane tank is the entire problem. Even an 'empty' 20-pound tank holds residual gas under pressure and can rupture in a compactor. Trash and bulk crews are trained to refuse grills with tanks attached, and a tank left on the grill is the main reason grills get skipped.
Three mistakes that get grills left at the curb:
Paid options are mostly for built-in grills and heavy ceramic kamado cookers.
Self-haul to a scrap yard or transfer station
Free to $20A cart grill fits in an SUV with the lid off and legs folded. Scrap yards take it free; transfer stations charge a small bulky fee. Take the tank to a separate drop-off.
Ceramic kamado grills have no scrap value and go to a transfer station; the steel bands and cart are scrap.
LoadUp paid grill pickup
$80+For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, exceed the weekly 1-cubic-yard limit, can’t wait for Project Clean & Green or Drop-Off Centers, live in apartment buildings without DPW service, have items the City won’t accept, or want full-service hauling without managing prepaid stickers, LoadUp offers professional removal in Milwaukee with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
What’s included: Loading, hauling, and licensed disposal of your grill. No prep needed beyond pointing out what goes.
Pricing: Starts around $80 for a single item; full-truck pickups range from $300 to $600 depending on volume.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. Every paid LoadUp customer can opt in to round up at checkout, and 100% of round-ups go directly to Freemoval’s subsidized jobs.
Book grill pickup in Milwaukee with LoadUp → Round-up option appears at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Rules change at city limits. If you are outside Milwaukee proper, start with the guide for your own city:
Related guides: the complete Milwaukee junk removal guide (every item type, city services, hazardous waste, and how to report dumping) and the national grill disposal guide with rules for all 117 cities we cover.
Other free removal guides for Milwaukee: mattress, couch, refrigerator, washer and dryer, furniture, tv and electronics, dresser, bed frame and box spring.
Does Milwaukee pick up grills for free?
The grill within the free allowance. The tank to MMSD or an exchange.
How much does paid grill removal cost in Milwaukee?
Through the LoadUp marketplace, a single grill pickup in Milwaukee starts around $80 to $100 with upfront pricing, and full-truck loads run $300 to $600 depending on volume. For households who need same-day or in-home pickup, exceed the weekly 1-cubic-yard limit, can't wait for Project Clean & Green or Drop-Off Centers, live in apartment buildings without DPW service, have items the City won't accept, or want full-service hauling without managing prepaid stickers, LoadUp offers professional removal in Milwaukee with upfront pricing. Independent loaders in the marketplace handle pickup, loading, and licensed disposal.
Can I put a gas grill out with bulk trash?
Yes in most cities, once the propane tank is removed. Some cities also ask for the grill to be clean of grease. Check your city’s rule in the directory below.
What do I do with the propane tank?
Take it to a tank exchange cage (trade for a full one), a propane dealer or hardware store that accepts old tanks, or a household hazardous waste facility. Never put it in the trash or at the curb, even if it feels empty.
Will a scrap yard take a grill?
Yes, free, and stainless grills often pay. The tank must be off; most yards refuse tanks unless the valve has been removed, and many refuse them entirely.
Can I donate a used grill?
Working gas grills that are cleaned are accepted by some ReStores and move instantly on free listings in spring and summer. Thrift stores generally do not accept grills. Include the regulator and hose, not the tank.
Is this Milwaukee page maintained?
Yes. Freemoval maintains this page as a public resource alongside the full Milwaukee guide. We update it when programs change rules, fees, or contact methods. Last updated October 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.
