Extra Collections for the Downtown August Moving Days Are Complete for 2026

The Streets Division's extra collections for the annual downtown August moving days are now over.

The final day of the moving days operations was today, Friday, August 21, 2026.

In response to the annual event where thousands of Madison residents change homes on or around August 15 along the isthmus in the defined moving days area, the Streets Division provides extra collections to try to keep up with the amount of large items, trash, and recyclables pushed to curb.

This year the Streets Division provided extra collections for the move out area starting on Monday, August 3, and the extra pickups end today, Friday, August 21, 2026.

Our personnel picked up and sent over one million pounds of extra material to the landfill during this year's out period.

What to do with unwanted large items, like furniture, now that the August move out is over?

If you need a large item collected from the Streets Division, you need to schedule a large item work order. 

If your home is ineligible to receive large item collection from the Streets Division, work with your property management to learn your collection options through the private waste hauler at your complex or building. Every dumpster service provider also has large or bulky item pickup services.

All Madison residents can also take large items to a Streets Division drop-off site. 

If your furniture or other items are reusable, there are many donation opportunities around Madison, including many places that will come to your home and collect the items for free.

What do I do with extra cardboard that won't fit into the recycling collection cart?

This is a common problem that happens across the city during move ins, move outs, and the holidays.

We have a webpage that spells out the rules to follow so you can get the cardboard picked up from the curb on your recycling day.

You can also take the extra cardboard to a drop-off site. 

Please visit the extra cardboard website to learn what you need to do.

What do I do if I have more trash than the cart can hold?

We have specific guidelines and limits on how to place extra bags of trash so it will be collected on your normal curbside pickup day.

Visit our household cleanup page for these specific details.

Additional Information

For more information about Streets Division operations, visit our website or contact our offices.