Brush & Yard Waste Collection

Residents are provided with fourteen brush collections and four yard waste collections between April and November. Residents must have their brush and yard waste placed at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Monday on the following brush collection weeks:

Curbside Brush & Yard Waste Collection Schedule for 2023

  • April 3 - 7
  • April 17 - 21 (yard waste also collected)
  • May 1 - 5 
  • May 22 - 26 (yard waste also collected)
  • June 5 - 9
  • June 26 - 30
  • July 17 - 21
  • Aug. 7 - 11
  • Aug. 28 - Sept. 1
  • Sept. 18 - 22
  • Oct. 2 - 6
  • Oct. 16 - 20 (yard waste also collected)
  • Oct. 30 - Nov. 3
  • Nov. 13 - 17 (yard waste also collected)

Actual collection dates may depend on weather

Brush & yard waste will be picked up between Monday and Saturday, but not necessarily on your refuse collection day. To ensure pick up, please have your brush & yard waste at the curb by 6:30 a.m. the Monday of the collection week. If you feel your brush was missed or have questions regarding pickup, please contact Pellitteri at 608-257-4285. 

Brush

Find Your Collection Day Calendar!

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Yard Waste Bagging Methods

The photo to the right shows the most ecological (#1) to least ecological (#3), but still acceptable, yard waste set out options:

  1. Reused plastic cart (1a), container or bags (1b), reusable hundreds of times
  2. Compostable Bags (1c), ~30 gallon paper bag w/ folded top (~$0.50-1.20/bag)
  3. Non-reusable Bags ~30 gallon black plastic bag, bag must be left untied* ($0.10-0.20/bag)

*Please note that reusable bags must not be tied to allow for emptying yard waste without ripping the bag open.

Yardwaste Polybags Available

Yardwaste polybags are available to Fitchburg residents at the 2nd floor counter at City Hall. The first bag is free to residents who pay the refuse and recycling special charge on their property tax bill. Additional bags are $2 per bag. Bags are available on a first-come, first served basis.  Please contact the main counter of City Hall at 608 270-4200 to find out if/when bags will be available.

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Polybag

What's the difference between brush & yard waste?

Brush
Yard Waste
  • Branches or limbs less than 5 feet long
  • Branches or limbs less than 6 inches in diameter
  • Grass clippings
  • Leaves, Weeds, Vines
  • Twigs less than half an inch in diameter (roughly as thick as your thumb) and less than 12 inches long
  • Vegetable / plant matter
  • Hay / straw
Materials Not Accepted
  • Any branches or limbs that exceed above guidelines
  • Brush, tree branches
  • Holiday wreaths
  • Rocks
  • Dirt
  • Woody plants
  • Other Options for Brush Disposal:
Placement & Preparation
  • Tree trunks and limbs from 4-6 inches diameter must have branches trimmed off
  • Lay branches perpendicular to the street with the cut end toward the street
  • Piles should be no more than 3 feet tall
  • Pile brush neatly - do not put brush inside of cardboard boxes or plastic bags
  • Brush needs to be placed in public right-of-way (e.g. grass terrace or driveway apron just beyond the curb head), but not in the street.  Brush placed on private property or private streets will only be collected if the property owner signs an indemnification agreement and coordinates with the City and hauler (Pellitteri Waste Systems).
  • Have brush at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Monday morning of the above brush collection weeks

  • Yard waste must be placed in a bag or container no larger than 50 gallons or 50 lbs. No loose materials or material in cardboard boxes will be collected
  • If you want the bags left behind for future use, please leave a container to put empty bags in along with a visible note on container or leave a brick/rock to place on the bags and a note to keep them from blowing away once emptied
  • Have yard waste at the curb by 6:30 a.m. Monday morning of the above yard waste collection weeks 
  • Yard waste can also be taken to the City Recycling Drop Off Site located at 2373 S. Fish Hatchery Rd.
  • No yard waste set out is the greenest option - resident mulches into the lawn or composts on site, reduces city labor and transportation costs: