For New Homeowners
Setting Up City of Madison Trash & Recycling Service
If you have City of Madison collection at your new home, there's nothing you need to do.
Trash collection (tan cart) is paid for via your property taxes. There is no account necessary.
Recycling collection (green cart) is paid for by the Resource Recovery Special Charge. This is included with your Municipal Services Bill (most people call it the "water bill"). No extra account is necessary. This charge is added to your account when you sign up for the water service.
How Do You Get Collection Carts if You Receive City of Madison Service
If your home was previously occupied, your home should already have a trash and recycling cart. When you do your final walk through, make sure carts are present.
Carts are City property. Homeowners should not take them when they move.
If your home is a new construction, just verify with your realtor / developer / builder about who will be requesting trash & recycling carts so they are present when you arrive.
How to Tell if You Receive City of Madison Trash & Recycling Services
The easiest way to tell is look at the carts.
If they have a City of Madison logo on them - then you get City services.
If the logo is a private company or if you use a metal dumpster, then you do not receive City trash & recycling pickup.
There are two other important situations as well.
Carriage Lanes
Some homes in new developments in Madison have paved alleyways called "carriage lanes".
The Streets Division does not perform collections on carriage lanes. A private company provides trash and recycling pickup from these areas.
Private Roads
The Streets Division does not perform collection on private property.
If your carts are picked up from private roadways or in parking lots, then you do not use City of Madison collections at your new home.
How to Set up Service for Trash & Recycling if You Do Not Receive City of Madison Collection
Every situation will be different.
If you are using a realtor, consult with them for your particular home.
Also, you may need to contact your new homeowner's or condominium association to learn the process to set up the necessary account with the private hauler. It may be automatic as part of enrolling with the HOA or condo association, or it may require something else.
Additional Resources
As a new homeowner, you certainly have a lot to learn.
Use this list below, explore our website to find out about all of the other services we provide, and please contact us with any questions.
And congratulations on your new home!
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How to Recycle Extra Cardboard
There are specific guidelines on how to recycle all the extra cardboard from your move.
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Large Item Collection
You need to schedule large, or bulky item, pickups before you put them out to the curb.
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Dane County Clean Sweep for Paint, Chemicals, Etc.
This is the year-round facility to take any leftover paint, chemicals, and other hazardous waste you may have found in your new home.
This is not a City of Madison agency. Clean Sweep is run by the Dane County Department of Waste and Renewables.
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Streets Division Drop-off Sites
The Streets Division has drop-off sites for Madison residents and taxpayers to bring excess items, like extra cardboard, excess bags of trash, and to recycle certain specialty items, like electronics and batteries.
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Free Downloadable Resources
We have a number of free resources you can download and use at home. We can mail each of them to you as well. Just contact us!
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Trash & Recycling Cart Information
All of the rules on using the trash & recycling carts.
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Recycling Rules
Guidelines on what belongs in the green recycling cart.
Recyclopedia
Trash & Recycling
- Report a missed collection
- How do I dispose of...?
- Drop-off sites
- Guidelines
- Cart Information
- Collection Schedule
- Disabled Resident Cart Roll Out Assistance
- For New Homeowners
- Free Resources
- Move Out & Clean Outs
- Recycle Better Class
- Resource Recovery Special Charge
- Special Vehicles
- Waste Reduction
- Demolition Permit Reuse and Recycling Plans