Madison Bulk Trash Pickup Rules (2026 Rules & Calendar)
Bulk pickup is listed as available for up to 5 items per collection. 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.
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 |
Allowed vs. disallowed bulk materials
Furniture
Not verifiedLocal curbside rules are not verified. Ask the sanitation office whether this material is accepted and whether a separate appointment is required.
Appliances
Not verifiedLocal curbside rules are not verified. Ask the sanitation office whether this material is accepted and whether a separate appointment is required.
Construction debris
Not verifiedLocal curbside rules are not verified. Ask the sanitation office whether this material is accepted and whether a separate appointment is required.
How to throw away a mattress in Madison
Follow the listed bulk 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.
Special disposal mandates
Plastic mattress encasement: The listed rules do not require mattress bagging. Confirm any material-specific handling instructions before pickup. Read mattress bagging laws →
Freon sticker for refrigerant appliances: Not required under the listed rules. Residents whose recycling is collected by the City of Madison from a green cart pay the Resource Recovery Special Charge monthly and do not pay recycling fees for curbside pickup or drop-off site disposal of large appliances. Residents using private haulers must purchase fee stickers before setting items out.
Madison Curbside Scavenging & Trash Picking Rules
Whether you want usable items salvaged before the compactor crushes them or you are looking for scrap metal, understand the local curbside legal boundaries in Madison.
Public Curb vs. City Cart Ownership
Under federal precedent, property discarded in public rights-of-way is legally abandoned. However, many municipal ordinances classify materials placed inside official city-owned recycling carts as city property. Removing materials from inside containers can trigger municipal pilfering fines.
Mark Usable Items with a "FREE" Sign
If you want scrap metal collectors or neighbors to haul away working appliances, lawnmowers, or furniture before bulk pickup day, tape a clear "FREE" sign to the item and place it directly on the curb line away from your private driveway.
Madison Area Landfills & Citizen Drop-Off Stations
When you have large renovation loads, dirt, concrete, or bulky waste exceeding curbside limits, self-haul directly to a verified transfer station or county landfill serving Dane County.
📍 4602 Sycamore Ave, Madison, WI 53704
East side municipal drop-off site for City of Madison residents accepting refuse, recyclables, electronics, scrap metal, appliances, yard waste, and brush.
📍 402 South Point Rd, Madison, WI 53719
West side municipal drop-off facility serving Madison residents for household large items, recycling, electronics, brush, and yard waste.
📍 121 E Olin Ave, Madison, WI 53713
Central drop-off location providing free wood mulch pick-up for residents and seasonal drop-off services.
All open truck beds and trailers must be secured with a tarp. Unsecured loads face an immediate $20 to $50 state fee at the scale.
Most facilities have a minimum entry fee ($25 to $45) covering up to 1,000 lbs, with prorated per-ton rates for heavier commercial debris.
To receive discounted residential gate rates, bring a valid state driver license and a current local municipal water or utility bill.
If your project exceeds city bulk limits, review our dumpster rental vs. bulk pickup cost comparison or read our construction debris weight guide.
Local disposal alternatives in Dane County
For items that cannot go at the curb, check these official disposal resources. Confirm accepted materials, residency requirements, fees, and hours before visiting.
City of Madison East Drop-off Site
4602 Sycamore Ave, Madison, WI 53704
East side municipal drop-off site for City of Madison residents accepting refuse, recyclables, electronics, scrap metal, appliances, yard waste, and brush.
City of Madison West Drop-off Site
402 South Point Rd, Madison, WI 53719
West side municipal drop-off facility serving Madison residents for household large items, recycling, electronics, brush, and yard waste.
City of Madison Central Drop-off Site
121 E Olin Ave, Madison, WI 53713
Central drop-off location providing free wood mulch pick-up for residents and seasonal drop-off services.
The nearest eligible transfer station or landfill depends on your address and the material. These resources are not ranked by distance.
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 2026-10-10: 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.