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Refuse and recycling carts at the curb
Streets & Urban Forestry

August Student Move Out

On this page, you will find

Student Move Timeframe

In 2024, student move collections began on Monday, August 5 and ended on Friday, August 23. 

Student Move Out Area Map

View larger map

Donation Information

After you have made your moving plan and picked what you are moving with you, donate what is usable. We have a list of some of the ways you can prevent good items from being wasted in the landfill on our reuse, donate, and resell page.

Apartment Building Donation Sites

Some large buildings may be working directly with donation organizations to set up donation stations to reclaim usable items.  For example, in years past many downtown buildings worked directly with Goodwill. 

If you are unsure if your building is offering this opportunity, or if you would like your building to participate, contact your property manager to see if Goodwill or another organization may be able to set up a donation site in the building during the move out. 

Daily Cart Collection in the Move Out Area

For 2024, we will have crews in the move out area each work day emptying trash and recycling carts carts starting on August 5 and ending on August 23.

Fill up your carts with the appropriate material according to the guidelines and roll them to the curb by 6:30 a.m. 

We will empty the carts as soon as we can so you can fill them up again, so we can empty them again.

Crews will begin patrolling the student move out area starting August 5 as staffing and time allows.  The plan is for crews to complete their regular assigned routes and collection duties. With any remaining time in the shift, they will go to the move out area to empty carts and collect large items.

As more material is set out, more staff will be diverted from regular duties (like brush collection or street repair) to help with the cleanup duties.

Filling and re-filling your carts keeps your neighborhood clean, and makes our collection much faster so we can stay out of your way while you move.

Large Item Collection and the Move Out

Furniture, Mattresses, and Other Free Items

If you live in the student move out area, you will not be required to complete a work order for free large items from August 5, 2024 until the morning of Friday, August 23, 2024. Large item collection crews will be roving the student areas during that time.

During this window of time, you will not be required to submit a work order to have couches, chairs, box springs, mattresses, bookshelves, tables, and other free large items picked up from the curb.

If you need a large item picked up after or before this window of time listed above, you must create a work order.

A list of items that may require depending on who collects your recycling can be found on the Large Item page.

If your large item is not listed, and it is also not an electronics item that must be recycled by state law, then it can be collected at the curb without a work order in the student move area during the window of time noted above.

What if you do not live in the student move out area? The normal large item work order requirements still apply.

Microwaves, Air Conditioners, and Other Appliances & Special Large Items

Certain items require a large item work order for collection during the move out.  This ensures we have the correct truck pick-up these items as fast as possible.

They are mostly appliances such as microwaves, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, air conditioners, and so on.  It can also include tires, lawn mowers, and other items.

The items requiring a work order during the move out are ones listed that have a fee associated with them.  The list of items can be found on the large item page

Who pays the fees?

If your home receives recycling collection from the City of Madison, that means you pay the Resource Recovery Special Charge on the monthly municipal services bill.  This special charge covers the cost of the fees related to these special large items, so you will not be prompted to pay any fees when you fill out the large item work order to have these collected. You will also not be charged when dropping these items off at a drop-off site.

If your recycling is collected in a dumpster, or from carts that are not provided by the City of Madison, that means you do not have recycling collection from the City of Madison. This means you do not pay the Resource Recovery Special Charge. As a result, you will need to pay the appropriate fee for these items when making your large item work orders for these special items.  You will also need to pay the fee before you drop these items off at one of the drop-off sites.

If you are choosing to take the item to a drop-off site and you must pay a fee for the item, then you will receive a fee sticker in the mail to show that you paid for the item. You cannot drop off the item until you receive the sticker.

  • List of large items and appliances requiring a fee
  • Schedule your large item work order

TVs, Computers, Printers, and Other Electronics

These items must be taken to a drop-off site for appropriate recycling.

In 2024, there are no fees for these items when you take them to a City drop-off site.

Do not set electronics to the curb.

Do not put them into the trash or recycling carts.

Collection Guidelines

Cart Usage
  • Do not take the collection carts with you to the next apartment. Carts or dumpsters will be at your next home.
  • Please keep your trash and recycling carts separated from each other. Remember to leave space between carts so we can collect them without knocking over other carts.

  • Don't mix up carts. Place trash carts near other trash carts. And place recycling carts near other recycling ones.

     

Trash
  • Put all of your trash in the tan trash cart or in trash bags. 
  • Do not put recycling in your tan trash cart.
  • Do not put trash into cardboard boxes. 
  • If you have more trash than will fit into your cart, use trash bags. Don't pile loose heaps of your garbage on the ground.

Recycling
  • Put your clean, dry, and empty recyclables in the green recycling cart.
  • If you are bagging recyclables, you must use bags you can see through. Any other kind of bags means your recyclables will be thrown out as trash. 
  • Flatten your boxes before you recycle them.  

How to Stack Your Large Items
  • Do not pile bagged trash or recyclables on your large items
  • Stack your materials neatly
  • Keep furniture, wood, rugs, and mattresses separated from appliances and other special items.

Property Owners & Managers

Property Owner and Manger Information

In 2024, individuals that own non-owner occupied property in the student move received a letter providing notification about how the Streets Division will handle certain items set to the curb that should not be.

There are two versions of this letter.  One that was sent to properties that pay the Resource Recovery Special Charge, and one version to properties that do not. The letters can be read here:

The mailing included a map of the the student move area, a flyer explaining the drop-off site hours and locations for this year, and a flyer explaining large item rules.

Be sure your tenants know their responsibilities on how to safely handle these items.

Provide them with the recycling resources they need so they know how to be responsible with their stuff.

Illegal Dumping

If items are dumped illegally on your property, it is a crime.  Report this to the Madison Police Department. After you get your case number from MPD, contact the Streets Division to learn the next steps.

How-to Video

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Trash & Recycling