August Moving Days: Daily Cart Emptying in the Moving Days Area

posted July 28, 2026 – 11:31am

Starting at 6:30 a.m. on Monday August 3, 2026, residents in the moving days area can place trash and recycling collection carts out for emptying each workday.

Daily cart emptying in the move out area will end on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Again, daily cart emptying only applies in the move out area. You can find a map of this specific area of Madison on the August moving days webpage.

Using carts, and using them right, during the August moving days, will keep our city clean and it will make the collection process faster and safer for everyone.

Daily Cart Emptying Collection Plan

The plan is for trash and recycling crews to finish their daily assignments. Then they will perform extra collections in the move out area.

If you live in the moving days area, you can fill and re-fill the carts multiple times as you tidy up your home for your move.

As more carts and items are placed out for pickup, more staff will be reassigned from their normal duties to assist the moving days collections and cart emptying.

The goal is to provide daily workday collection opportunities in the moving days area starting on Monday, August 3, 2026, and ending on Friday, August 21, 2026.

Guidelines for Trash Collection

Put trash inside the tan trash cart.
Put trash that doesn't fit in the cart into trash bags. Place these extra bags next to the trash cart. Or take the extra to a drop-off site.
Do not pile trash loose on the ground.
Do not put overflow trash in cardboard boxes – use trash bags.
Keep trash and recycling separated from each other.

Guidelines for Recycling Collection

Place only correct recyclables into the green cart.
Do not place clothes, bedding, batteries, electronics, and other items that do not belong into the green recycling cart.
Keep the recycling lid closed when out for collection.
Extra recyclables at the curb should be placed into clear bags. Put the bags next to the recycling cart.
- The bags must be clear, otherwise they will be considered trash.
Do not make loose heaps of recyclables on the ground.
Empty and flatten your cardboard boxes and place them into the recycling cart – including pizza boxes.
- Have more cardboard than your card can hold? Flatten and bundle cardboard boxes for recycling according to the rules. Or flatten the boxes and then take the extra cardboard to a drop-off site.
- Do not stuff cardboard boxes inside a larger box.
Keep your recycling separated from trash.

Basic Cart Usage Guidelines

Keep your carts away from obstructions, like fire hydrants, so they can be safely lifted and emptied.
Keep trash and recycling carts separated from each other.
Leave the collection carts at the property. Do not take them. The carts belong to the City and must remain for the new tenants.

Drop-off Sites

All residents that have more recycling or trash than can fit into the carts can bring the excess to a Streets Division drop-off site.

Residents can bring one load a day of trash, recycling, large items, or the other items accepted at the drop-off site.

The single load cannot be larger than what would fit into a standard pick-up truck bed or small single-axle trailer. Loads larger than those guidelines will be denied access.

Learn the locations, hours, and restrictions of the drop-off sites on the drop-off site website.