Lawn care
When does Madison pick up yard waste and brush, and how should I set it out?
A common question, answered by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026
1 answer
From MadisonWI.com
In the City of Madison, brush and yard waste are collected separately, and mixed piles won't be picked up. Set-out dates are Sundays; look up your address on the City's Streets site, and crews collect during the following work week. Brush season usually runs from spring into September, with five set-out chances a year. Yard waste and leaves are collected in spring (usually April and May) and fall (starting in October and finishing in early December). Pile everything on the terrace or the grass at the street edge, never in the street or on the sidewalk, and about 5 feet from trees, cars, poles, mailboxes and hydrants. Brush pieces must be 18 inches to 8 feet long and under 8 inches across, with cut ends facing one way and no bags. Leaves can be loose or in open-top bags. Contractors must haul away brush they create. The City runs three year-round drop-off sites. Other towns set their own rules. Source: City of Madison Streets Division, Brush & Yard Waste (checked November 2026).
Written by the MadisonWI.com editors · November 9, 2026