Madison, WI Trash & Recycling: Bulk Item Disposal (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- MGO § 10.18(5)(f)
- Items covered
- Furniture, mattresses, appliances, tires, debris
- Excluded
- Electronic waste: separate § 10.18(5)(g)
- First-offense fine
- $100
- Unpaid cleanup cost
- Becomes a special charge on the tax roll
Summary
The Streets Division runs curbside large-item pickup under a published Large Item Collection Policy, and property owners may not set furniture, mattresses, appliances or similar bulky items at the curb or on the terrace outside that policy's terms.
(f)Large Items.1.The Streets Division offers curbside large item collection pursuant to the City's Large Item Collection Policy.2.No large item shall be placed on any terrace or curbside for collection contrary to the City's Large Item Collection Policy. Every property owner shall be responsible for maintaining all of their property, along with the terrace area adjacent thereto, in accordance with this Subdivision. Fees for such large item collection shall be set by the Streets Division Manager.3.The Streets Division Manager shall cause all large items which have been placed at curbside or on the terrace of properties contrary to the City's Large Item Collection Policy to be removed and disposed of properly.
Full Breakdown
18(5)(f) governs large-item collection. 18(5)(g), which follows state e-waste rules. 18(5)(f)1, the Streets Division offers curbside large-item collection under its Large Item Collection Policy, and fees for that service are set by the Streets Division Manager. Paragraph 2 bars placing any large item on a terrace or at curbside for collection contrary to that policy, and makes every property owner responsible for keeping their property, and the adjacent terrace, compliant. 18(5)(f)3 authorizes the Streets Division Manager to remove and dispose of them, track the expense, and have the Finance Director convert that cost into a special charge entered on the tax roll against the parcel, collected the same way as other special charges under Wis.
0627, meaning an owner who ignores a bulk-item cleanup can see the removal cost added to their property tax bill rather than billed directly. 05(2)(dd), confirming property owners carry removal responsibility even outside the housing chapter's own terrace-nuisance provisions.
Violations & Fines
The City's penalty schedule sets a $100 fine for depositing large items without approval at the curb or terrace, a violation of § 10.18(5)(f), for a first offense. Beyond the fine, unauthorized items are subject to City removal, with the disposal cost billed back to the property as a special tax-roll charge rather than a simple invoice, giving the City a lien-style collection mechanism if the fine and cleanup cost go unpaid.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just put my old couch at the curb anytime?
What happens if I leave a mattress out improperly?
Does electronic waste count as a large item in Madison?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
Compare Madison to another location·View the Wisconsin trash & recycling overview
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Bulk Item Disposal in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle bulk item disposal.