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Junk removal in Madison and every Dane County community

Yard Waste and Brush Removal in Madison

Updated

Short answer

Yard waste is banned from Wisconsin landfills. Madison gives each home five brush set-out dates a year, roughly April to September, for branches 18 inches to 8 feet long and under 8 inches thick. Outside that, Dane County takes clean brush and logs at $40 per ton ($10 up to 500 pounds) in 2026.
Worker loading branches from a brush pile into a trailer on a terrace lined with older houses in October
Illustrative photo.

Madison brush rules

  • Set brush out on your scheduled Sunday; crews collect it the following week.
  • Stack it on the terrace, not the street or sidewalk, at least 5 feet from hydrants, trees, cars, poles and mailboxes, cut ends facing one way.
  • No bags or boxes. Small bundles tied with twine (not wire) must be under 4 feet and 40 pounds.
  • Keep brush separate from yard waste and from lumber, fencing and other large items. Mixed piles are not collected.
  • Piles that would take a crew more than about 15 minutes go to a crane truck a day or two later.
  • Since July 14, 2025 the brush processing center no longer accepts brush from contractors.

Elsewhere

Fitchburg, Middleton, Oregon, Cambridge, the Village of Dane, Westport and Albion each run their own brush or yard waste site or pickup; their town pages have the details. See Madison brush collection.

Common questions

Yard Waste and Brush Removal: questions

How long can brush be for Madison pickup?

Between 18 inches and 8 feet long and less than 8 inches in diameter, stacked on the terrace with cut ends facing the same way.

Yard Waste and Brush Removal in Madison and Dane County

Tell us what is going and where it is. A local crew replies with a price, and nothing is hauled until you agree to it.