Your pickup day
Pickup days are set by address. Enter yours in the City's collection schedule lookup to see your next two dates and a printable calendar. The 2026 and 2027 calendars were published together in November 2025. If the lookup fails, use the City's collection map, or call Streets and ask for a paper schedule.
Trash and recycling
- Trash goes in the tan cart and is picked up every week. Recycling goes in the green cart every other week, on the same day.(City of Madison)
- Carts out by 6:30 a.m., at the end of the driveway or on the terrace, never in the street. Keep them about 4 feet apart with the serial numbers facing the road, and clear of hydrants, trees and cars.(City of Madison) In winter, shovel a spot; don't set carts on or behind a snowbank.
- Nothing may stick out more than 18 inches above the trash cart, and a cart can't weigh over 100 lb.
- Recycling must be clean, empty, loose (not bagged) and at least 3 inches tall. Carts with banned items can be tagged and left full.(City of Madison)
- Only 65- and 95-gallon carts are issued now. Swapping for a bigger one is free; an extra cart costs $60 (65 gal) or $75 (95 gal), and a 5th or later trash cart is $80 a year.(City of Madison)
- Recycling is paid for by a Resource Recovery charge on the water bill: $5.40 a month per home since September 1, 2026.(City of Madison)
- Missed pickup: report it on the City's Report a Problem page or call Streets so a truck can come back.
Holidays
There's no pickup on City holidays: New Year's Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and the Friday after, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.(City of Madison)
- Single holiday: if it lands on your day, pickup moves to the next work day.
- Double holiday (Thanksgiving and the Friday after, Christmas Eve and Day, New Year's Eve and Day): the first day's pickup moves one day earlier, and the second day's moves to the next work day. Thursday pickup on Thanksgiving week goes Wednesday; Friday's goes the next Monday.
- Indigenous Peoples' Day (October 12, 2026) is a normal pickup day.
Large items and appliances
- Fill out the Large Item Work Order before you set anything out, and pick your set-out Sunday.
- Set items out that Sunday, not earlier or later. Crews come sometime the following week; metal items and landfill items are picked up by separate crews.
- Keep items under 8 feet, 4 feet from trees, cars, poles and carts, off the street and sidewalk, with metal grouped apart from everything else.(City of Madison)
It's free for homes whose recycling the City collects. Properties over 8 units have had no curbside large item service since January 2025. Refrigerators and freezers go out with the doors removed; Madison doesn't use Freon stickers. TVs and computers aren't large items: take them to a drop-off site.
Brush, leaves and holiday trees
- Brush: five Sunday set-outs a year, roughly April through early October, dates by address. Stack it on the terrace with cut ends one way; pieces 18 inches to 8 feet long and under 8 inches thick.(City of Madison) The 2026 season is over; 2027 dates come out in February or March.(City of Madison) This fall only, small brush piles go out on your leaf dates, kept separate from leaves.(City of Madison)
- Leaves and yard waste: Madison has no yard waste carts. Fall collection started October 4, 2026, with three set-outs per area through the week after Thanksgiving. Pile leaves on the terrace, never in the street; bags must be open at the top.(City of Madison)
- Holiday trees: collected in January. Remove the bag, stand and decorations; wreaths and garland go in the trash. The 2026–27 dates aren't posted yet.(City of Madison)
Drop-off sites
| Site | Address |
|---|---|
| East | 4602 Sycamore Ave |
| West | 402 South Point Rd |
| Central (opened April 2026) | 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway, the only site with free wood mulch |
- Hours through December 3, 2026: Monday and Friday 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 a.m.–7 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; closed Wednesday and Sunday.
- Winter hours from December 4: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 7:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m.; closed Wednesday and weekends.(City of Madison)
- They take extra recycling and trash, cardboard, electronics, batteries, Styrofoam, cooking oil, brush and yard waste, large items, and food scraps.
- Bring proof of Madison residency. One trip a day, no bigger than a pickup bed or 5×8 trailer, and you unload it yourself. No contractors.(City of Madison)
Hazardous waste: Dane County Clean Sweep
Clean Sweep is run by Dane County at 7020 Maahic Way, past the landfill entrance; 608-838-3212. Weekdays 7:15 a.m.–3:15 p.m., Saturday 8–10:45 a.m.(Dane County)
- Takes paint, stains, solvents, pesticides, pool chemicals, gasoline, motor oil, antifreeze, mercury items and rechargeable batteries. $15 a trip for Dane County households; $15 per TV, $10 per microwave, $35 per fridge, freezer or AC unit.
- Doesn't take alkaline batteries, dried latex paint (trash it), CFL bulbs, sharps or medications.
Winter rules
- Alternate side parking runs November 15 to March 15, 1–7 a.m.: odd dates on the odd-address side, even dates on the even side.(City of Madison) Last winter the City tested enforcing it only after the first plow or snow emergency, and a new notice system is planned; check the City's parking page for this winter's rules.(City of Madison)
- Snow emergencies are usually declared for 3 inches or more, before 9 p.m., and last about two days; everyone follows alternate side parking. Hotline 608-261-9111.(City of Madison) Tickets are $20, or $60 during a snow emergency, plus $115 if towed.(City of Madison)
- Sidewalks must be cleared by noon the day after snow stops, including curb ramps, with 3 feet clear around hydrants. Salt only above 15°F; use sand when colder.(City of Madison) Fines are $124, then $187, and if the City clears it, the bill goes on your property taxes.(City of Madison)
Questions
What day is trash pickup in Madison?
It depends on your address. Enter it in the City's collection schedule lookup at cityofmadison.com/CollectionSchedule to see your day and print a calendar. Trash is weekly; recycling is every other week on the same day.
What time do trash carts need to be out in Madison?
By 6:30 a.m. on your collection day, at the end of the driveway or on the terrace, never in the street, with space between carts.
How do I get rid of a couch or mattress in Madison?
Fill out the City's Large Item Work Order online before you set anything out, pick a Sunday, and set the items out that Sunday. There's no extra fee if the City collects your recycling. Buildings with more than 8 units don't get this service.
How do holidays change trash pickup in Madison?
If a holiday falls on your pickup day, pickup moves to the next work day. On double holidays, like Thanksgiving and the day after, the first day's pickup moves a day earlier and the second day's moves to the next work day.
Where can I drop off trash, electronics or brush in Madison?
At the City's three drop-off sites: East (4602 Sycamore Ave), West (402 South Point Rd) and Central (1504 Quann-Olin Parkway). Bring proof of Madison residency. Electronics and batteries are free.
When do I have to shovel my sidewalk in Madison?
By noon the day after the snow stops, including curb ramps on your frontage. A citation is $124 the first time and $187 after that, and if the City has to clear it, the cost goes on your tax bill.
Who to contact
- Streets Division: streets@cityofmadison.com; East 608-246-4532, West 608-266-4681; weekdays 7:30 a.m.–4 p.m.(City of Madison)
- Parking Enforcement: 608-266-4761; winter parking hotline 608-261-9111.
- Clean Sweep: 608-838-3212.