Final Chance for Curbside Brush Collection in 2025

The Streets Division’s final curbside brush collection will soon get underway.

The last date when you should set out brush for pickup varies by neighborhood.

For some, the last set-out date for brush for the year is Sunday, September 7, 2025.  For others, it will be a different Sunday in September.

Once the final curbside pickup occurs for your neighborhood, there will not be another guaranteed brush collection opportunity until the spring of 2026.

When is my final set out date for brush pickup?

Get your final set-out date for brush collection on our brush collection website.

Enter your address into the form.

You will see the Sunday when you should set out your brush for pickup.  

When will crews collect my brush after I set it out?

Collection will occur sometime during the work week following your set out Sunday.

Multiple neighborhoods share the same set-out Sunday, so it takes time to work through everyone who has the same set-out date.  

How do I set out brush for pickup?

Brush is woody tree limbs and branches you have cut from trees, shrubs, and bushes.

The pieces should measure between 18 inches and 8 feet in length, and be no thicker than 8 inches in diameter.

The cut ends should all face the same direction.

You should also be sure to place brush away at least four feet away from obstructions such as terrace trees, street signs, utility poles, or fire hydrants.

Brush does not include trash, lumber, or other debris.

Brush and yard waste are separate collections with different schedules. Do not mix them together.

If you do not follow these set out rules, your material may not be collected.

You can read more about the brush rules on our website or by watching our brush video.

What happens if I miss the final set out date for brush pickup?

Take your brush to a Streets Division drop-off site.

Check the drop-off site website so you know the locations, hours, and restrictions before loading brush into your vehicle.  

Why does brush collection end in September? This seems very early!

Curbside brush collection ends in September so personnel can be available to provide curbside yard waste collection.

The final brush pickup round takes crews the entire month of September to give each neighborhood their last guaranteed pickup chance.

Fall leaf pickup starts in early October. Crews that were picking up brush shift to picking up leaves and yard waste.

Fall leaf and yard waste pickup lasts until the early part of December.

We can’t guarantee brush collection after the fall leaf pickup in mid-December, either. The crews that were collecting brush are also the same people who drive the snowplows. 

Since we don’t know when the snow will start, we can’t guarantee a brush pickup in winter.  Our crews may very well be needed for important snow duties instead of brush pickup. And, of course, any significant snowfall would bury brush piles set out for pickup. 

Additional Information

More information about brush collection and the rules can be found at on the brush collection website.

Additional information about all Streets Division services can be found by exploring the Streets Division’s website or by consulting the Recyclopedia.

Paper copies of the Recyclopedia are available at the Madison Public Library near you, or they can be mailed to you upon request by contacting the Streets Division.