Trash (tan carts) is collected every week on Wednesdays. That means the carts should be placed curbside on Tuesday evening. Please place both types of cart in the street, with the wheels against the curb, and leave two feet (60CM) between each cart.

Recyclables (green carts) are collected every other week on the same day as the trash.

Please keep the trash and recycle bins separate. The Streets Department has asked us to place trash on one side of the drive and recyclables on the other to make it easier for the collectors. Please follow that system. When facing the street from your drive, tan trash carts should go on the left side and green recycle carts on the right.

If you have more trash than can fit in the cart, save it for next week. The Streets Division WILL NOT collect regular refuse that does not fit in your tan refuse cart. This restriction does not apply to large items such as furniture, appliances, mattresses, box springs, etc. If you regularly have more trash than will fit in your cart, you will have to buy a second cart.

Please mark your trash and recycle carts with your house number.

The carts are City of Madison property. You are required by law to leave them behind when you move. Taking them with you when you move is theft.

If you put an item of trash at curbside, such as an old lamp, piece of furniture, appliance, or construction refuse, and the trash collectors do not collect it, it is your responsibility to dispose of it yourself. Do not leave it at the curbside, hoping someone else will take care of it.

You are not allowed to put fluorescent lamps curbside for recycling or disposal. The city will not accept them, as they contain mercury, and will contaminate the ground water through seepage from the landfill.

You can take your bulbs to any store which sells them, for recycling. Stores are allowed to charge a fee for recycling them. I spoke on the phone to the manager of the Wal*Mart on Watts Road, and they will accept any bulbs, free of charge. The easy thing to do would be to take your old bulbs with you when you go to purchase new ones.

You must pay for a collection permit for large appliances, microwave ovens, televisions, and computer monitors. The collection permit is a large sticker you must attach to the item.

Check the City of Madison website or call 266-4681 for details on purchasing pickup permits, trash and recycling rules, and other information.