Burlington, WI Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Brush at curb
- No earlier than 3 days before pickup
- Compost site access
- Free while open, under Public Works rules
- Prohibited
- Mixing yard waste into regular garbage
- Prohibited
- Grass, stumps or root balls in streets/waterways
- Penalty
- Forfeiture per occurrence, each day a separate offense
Summary
City Code § 265-4 bars mixing leaves, grass or brush into regular curbside garbage and instead routes yard waste to the City's compost sites, a fall leaf collection, or curbside brush set out no earlier than three days before its scheduled pickup.
Prohibited yard waste disposal. No person shall: (1) Mix or permit the mixing of yard waste with solid waste for City curbside garbage collection or place or permit the placing of yard waste out for City curbside garbage collection. ... (3) Deposit grass clippings, garden debris, stumps, roots or shrubs with intact root balls in or upon any public street or waterway in the City of Burlington. ... Permitted yard waste disposal. It shall be lawful to: (1) Deposit yard waste at any authorized City of Burlington compost sites while such authorized sites are open in accordance with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Public Works Director and approved by the Common Council without charge. ... (3) Deposit brush behind the curbside no earlier than three days before scheduled brush pickup.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4997580; v29 updated 2026-07-07; through 07-07-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 265-4 applies to anyone, resident or business, who disposes of solid waste at a City landfill, compost site, or right-of-way. It flatly prohibits three things: mixing yard waste into curbside garbage or putting it out for garbage collection, dropping yard waste at an authorized compost or yard-waste site while it is closed, and depositing grass clippings, garden debris, stumps, roots or shrubs with intact root balls in a public street or waterway. In exchange, the code lays out what is allowed. Residents may drop yard waste at any City compost site free of charge while it is open, under rules the Public Works Director writes and the Common Council approves.
Anyone eligible for regular City garbage service may set leaves at the curb during the fall leaf collection under the same Public Works rules, and anyone may put brush behind the curb, but no earlier than three days before the scheduled brush pickup. Contractors doing yard work in the City must remove the brush and yard waste their own work generates, except leaves, and the City will not haul away contractor-generated material left in the right-of-way other than leaves from properties on regular garbage service.
Property owners not served by regular City collection can still drop off yard waste at the compost site for a fee the Common Council sets by resolution. Every owner or operator is responsible for keeping their property compliant with the section.
Violations & Fines
Section 265-4F makes any violation subject to a forfeiture per occurrence, with each day a violation continues counted as a separate offense, and the penalty is imposed under § 265-2's reference to the Chapter 1, § 1-4 schedule: $5 to $500 for a first offense, $10 to $1,000 for a repeat offense within a year, plus prosecution costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put grass clippings in my regular trash can?
How early can I put brush at the curb?
Is there a charge to drop off yard waste at the compost site?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Burlington
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