August Moving Days: How to Set Out Appliances, Furniture, & Other Large Items

When placing large items out for pickup, follow these guidelines:

• Keep items away from obstructions like fire hydrants, utility poles, trees, and street signs
• Do not place items under overhead obstructions like low-hanging wires and low tree limbs
• Keep the large item piles tidy.
  • For example, if you have taken apart a desk, stack the pieces neatly.
• Keep metal items and appliances separate from wood items and furniture.
  • This helps us collect the metals and appliances for recycling.
• Do not pile bagged trash or recyclables on top of large items or appliances.
  • Use your collection carts for trash and recyclables that can fit inside.
• No loose heaps of trash or debris waste on the ground.
  • Use bags for the small items that cannot fit into your cart.

Following the Rules Keeps Workers Safe & Makes Collection Faster

When you set the items out within these guidelines, you create a safe environment for our collection crews and you help everyone in the downtown moving area by allowing our crews an opportunity to work quickly.

Large item collection is performed by two different trucks.

Some items are collected by a truck-mounted crane. This is why you should not place items under low-hanging wires and branches. You can help keep our operators safe, and you can save us time so we do not have to drag items away from the overhead obstructions before we can safely use the crane.

We also use two-person crews to lift things from the curb by hand.  This is why you should keep your large item piles organized. The less time our crews have to spend gathering scattered items, the faster we can move.  And that will help us keep our trucks from creating more traffic congestion on the narrow downtown streets while we collect all of the move out debris.

Drop-off Sites

Madison residents can also dispose of large items at Streets Division drop-off sites.

Excess trash and recycling can also be taken to the drop-off sites, along with many other items.

Be sure you know the hours, locations, and restrictions of the sites before loading your car. 

Check the Streets Division’s drop-off site page for more information: www.cityofmadison.com/DropOffSites.

Additional Information

If there are questions, all residents are encouraged to contact the Streets Division.

Residents who live east of S. Park Street, and that includes the isthmus, should call 608-246-4532.

Residents west of S. Park Street, and that includes the neighborhoods around Camp Randall, should call 608-266-4681.

Additional information can also be found on the Streets Division’s Moving Days website, the Streets Division’s television and electronics recycling website, and the Recyclopedia.