Madison, WI Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Yard waste defined as
- leaves, grass clippings, garden/organic debris
- Brush defined as
- bushes, tree limbs, branches, woodlike trimmings
- Curbside limit
- no mixing with garbage for landfill
- Post-construction exception
- bagged terrace pickup, same year only
- First-offense forfeiture
- $50 to $200
- Third+ offense forfeiture
- $250 to $500
Summary
Madison bans mixing yard waste or brush into your trash cart or hauling it to a landfill, but you can compost it, drop it at an authorized site, or set grass clippings, leaves and garden debris at the curb on the Streets Division's yard-waste schedule. Brush gets its own curbside and drop-off schedule.
(e)Yard Waste.1.Prohibited Yard Waste and Brush Disposal. No person shall do the following, or direct another to do the following:a.Mix or permit the mixing of yard waste or brush with solid waste designated for landfill disposal at any solid waste facility located in the City or place or permit the placing of yard waste or brush out for City curbside garbage collection. ... 2.Permitted Yard Waste Disposal. It shall be lawful for any City resident or other lawfully authorized user to:a.Deposit yard waste at any authorized City yard waste drop-off sites or any authorized compost sites while such authorized sites are open.b.Compost yard waste in accordance with Section 7.361.c.Deposit grass clippings, leaves and garden debris at curbside to be collected by the City according to the yard waste collection schedule established by the Streets Division Manager.
Full Breakdown
18(5)(e) sets a hard line between yard waste and regular garbage. No one may mix yard waste or brush with solid waste headed for landfill disposal, place it out for City curbside garbage collection, dump it at any landfill or authorized site while closed, or deposit it in a public street, water or grounds, with one narrow exception: on a street where a public works project finished that calendar year, the adjoining owner may bag yard waste and set it at the curb for Streets Division pickup, solely during that project year, to let the disturbed terrace revegetate.
361; or setting grass clippings, leaves and garden debris curbside on the yard-waste collection schedule the Streets Division Manager publishes. Brush follows a parallel track, an authorized brush drop-off site, curbside pickup on the published brush schedule, or holiday trees at curbside during the special January collection. Any solid waste that turns up containing yard waste in violation of this subsection gives the City's garbage collector grounds to refuse the pickup entirely.
Violations & Fines
Under § 10.18(7)(a), violating the solid-waste separation requirements, including the yard-waste and brush rules, carries a forfeiture of $50 to $200 for a first offense within twelve months, $100 to $300 for a second offense within twelve months, and $250 to $500 for a third or later offense in any twelve-month period, with each day of violation a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put grass clippings in my regular trash cart?
Where can I drop off brush in Madison?
What about my holiday tree?
What's the fine for mixing yard waste with my garbage?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Madison
Compare Madison to another location·View the Wisconsin trash & recycling overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Yard Waste Collection in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Dane County handle yard waste collection.