Carts must be placed at the curb or alley with wheels toward the house and 3 feet of clearance from obstructions, vehicles, and other carts. Set out no earlier than 4 PM the day before and remove within 24 hours.
Madison MGO Chapter 10 specifies cart placement standards to enable safe automated pickup by Streets Division trucks. Carts must be placed at the curb edge or alley apron with the wheels and handle facing the house. Maintain at least 3 feet of clear space between the cart and parked vehicles, mailboxes, utility poles, trees, snowbanks, and other carts. Carts may be set out no earlier than 4:00 PM the evening before collection and must be retrieved within 24 hours after pickup. Do not place carts on sidewalks, terraces that block pedestrian travel, or in the street. During winter, keep carts out of plowed snow paths and ensure they are accessible without obstructing plows. Alley-serviced properties should follow alley-specific placement rules published for that route.
Improper placement may delay or prevent collection. Repeated violations can result in warning tags and municipal citations.
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