Pewaukee adopts updated recycling agreement with Waukesha County despite staff concerns about removed protections

The Pewaukee Common Council voted to adopt an updated intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Waukesha County that acknowledges the county's new processor (Waste Management in Germantown) and that, according to staff, removes certain protections municipalities previously had when the county needed to send recycling to an alternate processor.

Maggie (DPW head, S6) reviewed the issue and said the county declined to restore the language that had previously shielded municipalities from certain costs when the county had to redirect recycling after the May 2023 facility fire. She said the county committed to greater transparency in its budgeting and education programs and to improved communication with member communities. Staff recommended approving the IGA to preserve the city's eligibility for potential future dividends from the recycling program; failing to sign the IGA would keep the city in the county's processing arrangement but could forfeit the chance to receive dividends if and when the program returns money to municipalities.

"We asked for that language to be reasserted; they refused and we were basically at an impasse," Maggie said. She recommended adoption to preserve the possibility of dividends and because state statute does not allow unilateral opt-out of the county's responsible-unit designation without law changes and one year notice.

A council member moved to adopt the IGA; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote.

The council's action keeps the city aligned with county processing and preserves the city's potential to share in future recycling dividends, while staff will continue to press the county for transparency and budget detail.

This article is based on the council staff presentation and the recorded motion at the April 6, 2026 meeting.