Madison Trash Pickup Schedule & Holiday Delays
Source-reviewed schedule
Trash pickup is scheduled for this date.
- Trash pickup days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySet carts out Put carts out by 6:30 a.m. on your collection day. Place carts on the terrace or at the end of the driveway apron on top of the curb, never in the street.
- Next trash pickup
- Sep 23Based on the listed schedule
- Recycling days
- Monday & Tuesday & Wednesday & Thursday & FridaySingle-stream collection
Yard-waste events omitted: seasonal start and end dates are required.
Sunday routes are outside this Monday–Saturday resolver and are omitted.
Regular trash pickup & collection details
| Service | Collection days | Placement or collection rule |
|---|---|---|
| Trash | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday · Weekly | Placement cutoff: Put carts out by 6:30 a.m. on your collection day. Place carts on the terrace or at the end of the driveway apron on top of the curb, never in the street. |
| Recycling | Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday | Single-stream recycling |
| Bulk waste | Curbside collection of large items (mattresses, furniture, appliances) requires submitting a work order in advance. Residents choose a set-out Sunday, and City crews collect items during the following work week. Items must be under 8 feet in length and set on the terrace 4 feet away from trees, cars, and carts. Properties with more than 8 residential units are not eligible for curbside large item pickup. | Up to 5 items per pickup |
| Yard waste | Sunday | Seasonal: confirm start to confirm end. Brush and yard waste must be separated; mixed piles will not be collected. Brush (limbs between 18 inches and 8 feet long, under 8 inches in diameter) is collected curbside on assigned Sunday set-out dates. Yard waste (leaves, weeds, garden trimmings) is collected curbside during spring and fall cycles or accepted at city drop-off sites. |
Trash container requirements
- City-issued tan cart for weekly residential trash collection
- Set carts out by 6:30 AM on scheduled collection day
- Place carts on the terrace or driveway apron at the curb edge; do not put carts in the street
- Carts must be at least 5 feet from other carts, trees, vehicles, mailboxes, and fire hydrants
- White serial numbers on front of cart must face the street
- Ensure lid is closed; items must not stick out more than 18 inches from the top
- In winter, shovel snow from driveway or terrace and never place carts on or behind snowbanks
Madison recycling overview
Single-stream recycling · Collection days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
Accepted items
- Cardboard boxes and pizza boxes (flattened and empty)
- Paper, magazines, junk mail, office paper, and packing paper
- Cartons (milk, juice, soup, and broth cartons)
- Plastic bottles, jugs, dairy tubs, and plastic containers
- Aluminum, steel, and tin food and beverage cans
- Glass food jars and beverage bottles (clean, empty, dry)
Prohibited items
- Plastic bags and plastic film (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart)
- Batteries of all kinds (fire hazard; use designated battery drop-off)
- Styrofoam cups, food containers, and foam packaging
- Electronics, televisions, computers, monitors, cords, and wires
- Clothing, bedding, towels, and textiles
- Yard waste, leaves, and brush
- Medical needles, syringes, lancets, and prescription medicines
Madison bulk pickup rules
| Collection rule | Curbside collection of large items (mattresses, furniture, appliances) requires submitting a work order in advance. Residents choose a set-out Sunday, and City crews collect items during the following work week. Items must be under 8 feet in length and set on the terrace 4 feet away from trees, cars, and carts. Properties with more than 8 residential units are not eligible for curbside large item pickup. |
|---|---|
| Limit per pickup | 5 items |
| Permitted materials | No unconditional accepted-material list is verified. Confirm eligibility before putting items out. |
| Advance notice | Required before collection. |
| Dispatch phone | 608-266-4681 |
Madison holiday trash delays
Listed strategy: one day slide. A listed holiday shifts remaining pickups in its Monday-Saturday service week by one day.
Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. Named holidays recur each year; explicit dates apply only to their listed year.
2026 Holiday Collection Calendar: Madison, WI
Official schedule adjustments for recognized 2026 holidays. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, review whether curbside pickups slide forward:
| Holiday | Observed Date | Schedule Status | Curbside Adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | Thursday, Jan 1, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Martin Luther King Jr. Day | Monday, Jan 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Presidents' Day | Monday, Feb 16, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Memorial Day | Monday, May 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Juneteenth | Friday, Jun 19, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Independence Day | Saturday, Jul 4, 2026 | Weekend Holiday | Holiday falls on a weekend. Regular weekday curbside routes are unchanged. |
| Labor Day | Monday, Sep 7, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Monday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Columbus Day | Monday, Oct 12, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Veterans Day | Wednesday, Nov 11, 2026 | Not Observed | Regular collection schedule. Trash and recycling run as normal. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thursday, Nov 26, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Thursday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
| Christmas Day | Friday, Dec 25, 2026 | 1-Day Slide | Collections on Friday and the remainder of the service week are delayed by 1 day. |
DPW & sanitation contact
City of Madison Streets Division · municipal dpw
Phone: 608-266-4681
1501 W Badger RdMadison, WI 53713
These collection rules cover Zone City of Madison Curbside Collection Districts.
Trash & recycling questions
What days is trash collected in Madison, WI?
Listed trash collection days are Monday and Tuesday and Wednesday and Thursday and Friday. Set containers out Put carts out by 6:30 a.m. on your collection day. Place carts on the terrace or at the end of the driveway apron on top of the curb, never in the street.. These rules apply to Zone City of Madison Curbside Collection Districts.
Is garbage pickup delayed for holidays in Madison?
As of 2026-09-23: No observed holidays this week. Collections follow the regular schedule. A listed holiday shifts that day and the remaining collection days in its service week by one day. Observed holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day. These rules apply to Zone City of Madison Curbside Collection Districts.
How do I schedule bulk trash pickup in Madison?
Curbside collection of large items (mattresses, furniture, appliances) requires submitting a work order in advance. Residents choose a set-out Sunday, and City crews collect items during the following work week. Items must be under 8 feet in length and set on the terrace 4 feet away from trees, cars, and carts. Properties with more than 8 residential units are not eligible for curbside large item pickup. The listed limit is 5 items per pickup. Advance notice is required. Contact sanitation at 608-266-4681 to confirm eligibility and arrange service. These rules apply to Zone City of Madison Curbside Collection Districts.
What items are accepted for recycling in Madison?
The listed accepted materials are Cardboard boxes and pizza boxes (flattened and empty), Paper, magazines, junk mail, office paper, and packing paper, Cartons (milk, juice, soup, and broth cartons), Plastic bottles, jugs, dairy tubs, and plastic containers, Aluminum, steel, and tin food and beverage cans, Glass food jars and beverage bottles (clean, empty, dry). Keep these listed prohibited items out: Plastic bags and plastic film (never bag recyclables; place loose in cart), Batteries of all kinds (fire hazard; use designated battery drop-off), Styrofoam cups, food containers, and foam packaging, Electronics, televisions, computers, monitors, cords, and wires, Clothing, bedding, towels, and textiles, Yard waste, leaves, and brush, Medical needles, syringes, lancets, and prescription medicines. Confirm item-specific preparation rules with the official sanitation office. These rules apply to Zone City of Madison Curbside Collection Districts.