Refuse and recycling carts at the curb
Streets & Urban Forestry
  1. Closed for Thanksgiving and Ho-Chunk Day (11/27 & 11/28)

    No collections on 11/27 (Thanksgiving) & 11/28 (Ho-Chunk Day). 

    Check your collection schedules to learn when to set out trash and recycling carts.

    Drop-off sites also closed on 11/27 & 11/28.

    Olin Avenue drop-off last day is 11/30.

Wood Mulch

On this page you will find:

 

All Loads Must Be Covered

All loads of mulch received from the Brush Processing Center (121 E. Olin Avenue) must be covered or enclosed in a vehicle.  

We do not want you leaving a mess of wood chips on the road when you drive away.

Mulch service will be denied if you can't cover or contain the mulch to stop it from spilling or blowing out of your vehicle.

 

Small Amount of Wood Mulch from the Brush Processing Center

We accept MasterCard and Visa. We do not accept cash or check payments.

All material sold as is. All sales final. No refunds or exchanges.

There is no delivery of small amounts of wood mulch.

  • 1 to 3 yards of mulch: $20
  • 1 loader bucket full of mulch: $20/loader bucket

 

Large Amount of Wood Mulch

We accept MasterCard and Visa. We do not accept cash or check payments.

All material sold as is. All sales final. No refunds or exchanges.

  • Semi-load, when picked up from brush processing center: $250 per semi-load
  • Semi-load, when delivered and including the Bulk Customer Rate: $250 per semi-load plus the delivery fee
  • Semi-load, when delivered for customers that do not quality for the Bulk Customer Rate: $275 per semi-load plus the delivery fee

How much is a "semi-load"?

About 75 yards.

Delivery Fee

The fee is charged based on the number of miles driven to deliver the mulch. The starting point is 121 E. Olin Avenue.  The max distance we will deliver is 50 miles.   The fee we charge is:

  • 0 to 30 miles: $25
  • 31 to 40 miles: $50
  • 41 to 50 miles: $75

Bulk Customer Rate

In order to qualify for this rate, you must pre-pay for at least 20 semi-loads of mulch.  Contact the Brush Processing Center for additional details. 

Free Mulch for Madison Residents

Madison residents can scoop up to 30 gallons (or 6 five-gallon buckets) of mulch for free. 

The mulch is available at two separate Streets Division locations.

Where is the free mulch?

Starting on July 14, 2025, free mulch will be available at the South Point drop-off site and the Sycamore dog park parking lot. 

Sycamore Mulch Pile Location:

Free mulch is located in southwest corner of the Sycamore Dog Park parking lot.  

South Point Mulch Pile Location:

Free mulch is located within the drop-off site area. It will only be available during drop-off site hours. Ask the attendant if you cannot find the pile.

Free mulch supply is limited

Mulch is not guaranteed to be available when you arrive. 

Free mulch will be restocked as staffing allows. 

We work to keep the free mulch stocked as much as we possibly can. 

What happened to free mulch at Olin Avenue?

Free mulch was moved from Olin to Sycamore and South Point due to a construction project at the Olin Avenue site that will last until December 2025.  

The project is make improvements to the site for a better central drop-off site in 2026. 

While the project is ongoing, there will be a large number of trucks coming and going from the site during the day. For everyone's safety, the free mulch was moved to other spots. 

Emerald Ash Borer Information

The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection has certified our brush processing site for safe shredding of ash trees. This means that mulch coming from our site will be free of the emerald ash borer. 

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Brush & Yard Waste