A public resource guide
Large item pickup by work order with chosen Sunday set-out (free for furniture, $35 for refrigerant appliances, $15 for motor appliances), three drop-off sites April–December, and Household Goods Recycling of Madison for high-impact donations.
Last updated: May 2026 · Maintained by Freemoval as a public resource
Madison, Wisconsin runs a carefully structured large item pickup system: you choose a Sunday set-out date via an online work order, and city crews collect the items during the following work week. Metal items (appliances) and non-metal items (furniture) are collected by separate crews — keep them separated. Fees apply for appliances with refrigerants ($35) or motors ($15). Madison also has three drop-off sites open April through December for residents who prefer to self-haul. This guide covers every option for City of Madison residents (properties with 9+ units use private dumpster service, not city collection).
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Madison has one of the most comprehensive waste systems among mid-size cities, with both curbside large item pickup (by work order) and three year-round drop-off sites. Most furniture and mattresses are collected at no charge. The notable distinction: Madison's large item system uses set-out Sundays and separate crews for metal vs. non-metal items. Below are the options most Madison residents qualify for.
Madison large item pickup
Free for most itemsMadison's large item pickup uses a work order with a chosen set-out Sunday. City crews collect during the following work week. Most items are free; appliances with refrigerant or motors carry a fee.
How to schedule: Start a work order at cityofmadison.com/streets. You pick the set-out Sunday during the work order.
Free items: Furniture, mattresses, non-motor appliances. No fee.
Fee items: $35 each for refrigerators, freezers, A/C, dehumidifiers (refrigerant). $15 each for grills, lawnmowers, microwaves (motors/fuel).
Eligibility: Single-family through 8-unit properties. Properties with 9+ units must use private service.
Madison drop-off sites (April–December)
Free for residentsThree drop-off sites operate April through December for residents and property taxpayers. Useful for excess trash, electronics, batteries, and items you can self-haul.
Locations: 4602 Sycamore Ave, 402 South Point Rd, 1504 Quann-Olin Pkwy.
2026 hours: Mon/Fri 7:30 AM–2:30 PM, Tue/Thu 7:30 AM–7:00 PM, Sat 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. Closed city holidays.
Required: Proof of Madison residency or property taxpayer status.
Donation pickup, including HGRM
Free for usable itemsMadison has a uniquely strong donation network. Household Goods Recycling of Madison (HGRM) is the highest-impact local channel.
Household Goods Recycling of Madison (HGRM): Local nonprofit that distributes donated items free to low-income families. Highest-impact donation channel in Madison.
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County ReStore: Free pickup for furniture, appliances, building materials.
Salvation Army Madison: Schedule at satruck.org or 1-800-SA-TRUCK.
Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin: Multiple Madison metro locations.
Freemoval (partner-community pickups)
FreeFreemoval subsidizes free junk removal pickups in partner communities, typically affordable housing properties. Madison partner expansion is in progress.
Eligibility: Households in active partner communities. Ask your property manager.
Status: Onboarding partner properties throughout 2026.
Madison’s large item pickup works differently from most cities. You must complete a work order before setting anything out. The system:
Step 1: Start a large item work order at cityofmadison.com/streets. During the work order process, you select your set-out Sunday.
Step 2: Place items curbside on your selected Sunday (no earlier). Crews collect during the work week after your set-out Sunday.
Step 3: Keep metal items (appliances) and non-metal items (furniture, mattresses) separated at the curb. Different crews collect each.
Size limits: Items must be less than 8 feet long. Keep items separate from carts, brush piles, and yard waste piles. Carts should be out by 6:30 AM with 4 feet of clearance from obstructions.
Appliance fees (2025 rates):
· Refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers (contain refrigerant): $35 each
· Gas grills, lawn mowers, microwaves (contain motors or fuel): $15 each
· Other items (furniture, mattresses, non-motor appliances): No fee
Property limit: Properties with more than 8 units are not eligible for city large item collection. These properties must use private dumpster service or another private hauler.
Madison operates three drop-off sites open April through December for residents and property taxpayers to bring excess trash, recycling, large items, electronics, batteries, cooking oil, and more. Proof of Madison residency or taxpayer status is required.
2026 drop-off site locations:
· 4602 Sycamore Ave
· 402 South Point Rd
· 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway
2026 hours (April 11–Dec 3): Mon 7:30 AM–2:30 PM, Tue 7:30 AM–7:00 PM, Thu 7:30 AM–7:00 PM, Fri 7:30 AM–2:30 PM, Sat 9:00 AM–4:00 PM. All sites closed on city holidays.
Also at drop-off sites: Electronics recycling, batteries, cooking oil recycling, and seasonal food scraps drop-off (at Madison Eastside Farmers’ Market, returning April 28, 2026).
Madison provides weekly trash collection in the tan cart and bi-weekly recycling in the green cart (all recyclables go loose, no bags). Carts out by 6:30 AM on collection day, 4 feet from obstructions. Yard waste is banned from the trash in Wisconsin.
Madison’s holiday schedule is notably extensive: 11 holidays cause collection delays including New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day, MLK Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day. For back-to-back holiday weeks, special rules apply — check cityofmadison.com.
Find your specific collection schedule: enter your address at cityofmadison.com/streets or download the annual PDF calendar. The Recyclopedia booklet (free at Madison Public Libraries) has comprehensive sorting guidance.
Household Goods Recycling of Madison (HGRM)
High-impact local nonprofitA uniquely Madison nonprofit that collects gently used household items from donors and distributes them free to low-income families establishing new homes. Accepts furniture, kitchenware, linens, and household goods that meet their guidelines. The highest-impact donation channel in Madison.
Salvation Army Madison
Free pickupSchedules free pickup for usable furniture and large items. Schedule online at satruck.org.
Habitat for Humanity of Dane County ReStore
Free pickupFree pickup for qualifying donations of furniture, appliances, and building materials.
Goodwill Industries of South Central Wisconsin
Drop-offMultiple Madison metro locations.
LoadUp paid pickup
$80+For Madison households who need same-day or in-home pickup, crew labor, or faster service than city programs allow, LoadUp connects you with independent loaders in the Madison area.
If you can pay for a pickup, your booking helps fund free pickups for someone else. 100% of round-ups fund subsidized pickups at standard market rates.
Book a Madison pickup with LoadUp → Round-up option at checkout. Optional, opt-in only.
Other paid services
$70–$4001-800-Got-Junk and College Hunks serve the Madison area. Local operators typically 20%–30% below national chains.
Contact the city to report illegal dumping: call 608-266-4681 or 608-246-4532 or submit at cityofmadison.com/streets. For Wisconsin state environmental violations, contact the Wisconsin DNR. For active dumping in progress, call the local police non-emergency line.
Photos with timestamps and license plate numbers significantly improve enforcement outcomes. See our complete illegal dumping guide for state penalty information and reporting best practices.
How does Madison’s large item pickup work?
Start a work order at cityofmadison.com/streets before setting anything out. During the work order, you select your set-out Sunday. Place items curbside on that Sunday. City crews collect during the following work week. Keep metal items (appliances) and non-metal items (furniture) separated at the curb — separate crews collect them. Items must be under 8 feet long. Appliances with refrigerant cost $35; with motors/fuel $15; other items free. Properties with 9+ units must use private service.
What is Household Goods Recycling of Madison?
HGRM is a local nonprofit that collects gently used household items from donors and distributes them free to low-income families establishing new homes. It accepts furniture, kitchenware, linens, and household items that meet their guidelines. It’s a high-impact donation channel unique to Madison.
Is this page maintained?
Yes. Last updated May 2026. If you find outdated information, let us know.