Madison Reporter

The City of Madison Streets Division is preparing to conduct its final curbside brush collection for 2025. The last date residents should set out brush for pickup depends on their neighborhood, with some areas needing to have materials out by Sunday, September 7, and others having different Sundays throughout the month.

After this final round, no further guaranteed curbside brush collections will occur until spring 2026. Residents can find their specific set-out dates by entering their address on the city's brush collection website.

Once brush is placed at the curb on the designated Sunday, crews will collect it during the following work week. Because multiple neighborhoods share the same set-out date, collection may take several days to complete.

To be eligible for pickup, brush—defined as woody tree limbs and branches from trees, shrubs, or bushes—must measure between 18 inches and 8 feet in length and be no thicker than 8 inches in diameter. The cut ends should face the same direction and be placed at least four feet away from obstructions such as terrace trees or utility poles. Brush should not include trash or lumber and must not be mixed with yard waste, which is collected separately.

Residents who miss their neighborhood’s final set-out date can take their brush to a Streets Division drop-off site. Before doing so, they are advised to check the drop-off site website for information about locations, hours, and restrictions.

The city schedules the end of curbside brush collection in September so personnel can shift focus to yard waste and leaf pickups beginning in October. Fall leaf and yard waste collections continue through early December. After mid-December, there are no guarantees of further brush pickups because staff transition to snowplow duties when winter weather arrives.

Further details about rules for setting out brush are available on the city’s brush collection website or by watching an instructional video provided online. More comprehensive information about all Streets Division services can be found by exploring the division’s website or consulting the Recyclopedia. Paper copies of this guide are available at local Madison Public Library branches or can be mailed upon request.