What you need to know to combat litter in your community

By Princess Safiya Byers Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service Published Jun 08, 2025 at 8:01 AM

It’s officially getting warm, and some residents are concerned about litter around the city.

Here are some ways to prevent and address litter in your neighborhood.

Report nuisance activity

Littering is one of over 25 nuisance activities in the City of Milwaukee’s code of ordinances, which also include indecent exposure, loitering, illegal drug activity and harassment.

It applies to both business and residential properties.

You can call the Police Department’s non-emergency number (414-933-4444) to report nuisance activity. You also can report a nuisance property by calling or emailing your Community Prosecution Unit, or CPU, or completing a hot spot form and submitting it.

Organize a cleanup

Though Milwaukee’s Big Clean has passed, you still can organize a cleanup. If you plan one between now and Oct. 31, Keep Greater Milwaukee Beautiful will assist by providing buckets and trash bags and lending tools for your event.

Find more information here.

Know who to call

Different agencies are responsible for trash in different parts of the city.

The City of Milwaukee Housing Authority is responsible for removing litter nuisances from its properties. Call 414-286-8534 to report litter nuisance at scattered site units (Housing Authority-owned single-family and duplex) or 414-286-2931 for the public housing developments.

The Department of Public Works’ Sanitation Division is responsible for litter on city streets, alleys and city-owned vacant lots. Call 414-286-CITY (2489).

Milwaukee County Parks is responsible for litter in the parks. Call 414-257-6100.

The Milwaukee County Department of Transportation’s Highway Maintenance Division is responsible for litter on highway lands. Call 414-257-6566.

Milwaukee Public Schools is responsible for litter around schools and playgrounds. Call 414-475-8393.