Recycling Center in Madison: Hours, Holidays & Drop-Off List

Madison Recycling Center Overview

When Madison residents search for madison recycling center, they usually need one of three things: a Streets Division drop-off site, curbside recycling schedule help, or Dane County Clean Sweep for hazardous materials. These are different services, and choosing the wrong one can waste a trip.

The City of Madison drop-off sites are for residents and taxpayers. They are self-service sites for accepted materials like extra cardboard, excess recyclables, electronics, batteries, molded Styrofoam, cooking oil, yard waste, brush, appliances, large items and excess trash. You should not bring business electronics, contractor debris from major work, or hazardous chemicals that belong at Clean Sweep.

For regular weekly collection, use the Madison Streets Division schedule lookup. The city says 2026 and 2027 trash and recycling schedules are available online by entering your address, and the full collection schedule can be downloaded as a PDF after looking up your home.

Quick Facts Before You Drive

Madison Recycling Center Locations: East, West and Central

Madison’s official drop-off site system has three resident-facing locations. The Central drop-off site at 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway is the newer centrally located site and replaced the older Olin-area setup. Follow posted signs and drive slowly because the entry is narrow and uses two-way traffic.

Madison Recycling Center Hours: 2026 Seasonal Schedule

All three Madison Streets Division drop-off sites maintain the same posted hours. During the expanded 2026 season from April 11, 2026 through December 3, 2026, the sites are open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, with extended evening access on Tuesday and Thursday. They are closed Wednesday and Sunday.

Madison Recycling Center Holiday Closures and Pickup Delays

Madison states that drop-off sites and offices are closed on City holidays. For curbside trash and recycling collection, the city explains that only residents whose regular collection day falls on the holiday will have their collection delayed. If the holiday is your collection day, the city will collect from your home the next work day.

The practical resident rule is simple: if a City holiday is approaching, do not assume the drop-off sites are open and do not assume your pickup shifts unless the holiday lands on your collection day. Use the address-based collection schedule lookup for your home and the official drop-off page for site access.

Madison Drop-Off List: What You Can Take

The Madison Streets Division says the drop-off sites accept many resident materials. This includes extra cardboard, excess recyclables, electronics, batteries, molded Styrofoam pieces for recycling, cooking oil, yard waste, brush, appliances, large items, excess trash, and select food scraps starting June 1, 2026.

Extra Cardboard Recycling in Madison

Madison accepts extra cardboard at drop-off sites, but boxes should be empty and flattened. If your cardboard box contains Styrofoam, separate it and place the Styrofoam in the molded Styrofoam recycling area instead of mixing it with cardboard.

Regular Recycling Cart vs Drop-Off Recycling

Madison’s recycling guidelines say recyclables should be correct paper, plastic containers, metal and glass; items should be clean, empty and dry; and recyclables should not be bagged unless a clear bag is used when absolutely necessary. For everyday recycling, use your green recycling cart. Use drop-off sites when you have overflow or accepted materials that need drop-off handling.

What Not to Bring to Madison Drop-Off Sites

Madison drop-off sites are not for every possible waste item. Do not bring business electronics, contractor waste from major remodeling or construction work, hazardous chemicals that belong at Clean Sweep, or materials that are outside the posted rules. Building material from minor resident projects may be accepted, but contractor work and major construction debris are not accepted through the regular resident drop-off route.

Madison Recycling Fees, Large Items and Fee Stickers

Some Madison residents need to pay recycling fees for certain large items, appliances and electronics. Madison says if the City collects your recycling, you do not need to pay these recycling fees because they are covered on your Municipal Services water bill under the Resource Recovery Special Charge. If the City does not collect your recycling, you may need to pay before dropping off fee items.

If your item has a recycling fee and your fees are not already covered, Madison says you need to buy a fee sticker before coming to the drop-off site. Fee stickers can be purchased online or at Streets East or West offices during office hours. Office hours are not the same as drop-off site hours.

TVs, Computers and Electronics Recycling in Madison

Madison is strict about electronics. Do not put televisions, computers, printers or other electronics in your tan trash cart, green recycling cart or at the curb for pickup. City of Madison residents must bring electronics to a drop-off site or use a private electronics recycler.

Accepted electronics include computers, laptops, tablets, e-readers, computer accessories, phones, printers, scanners, fax machines, televisions, monitors, remote controls, cable boxes, routers, modems, speakers, streaming devices, security cameras, video game systems, media players, cords, stereos, cameras, box fans, small kitchen devices and many battery-powered or plug-in gadgets.

Madison says there is no additional charge to residents for electronics recycling at city drop-off sites, but the service is only for City of Madison residents. Businesses and non-residents need another safe option. The city also warns that placing a TV or computer at the curb can result in a fee.

Paint, Chemicals and Hazardous Waste: Use Dane County Clean Sweep

For household chemicals, paints, stains, solvents, fuels, pesticides, antifreeze, motor oil, flammables, mercury items and many other hazardous materials, use Dane County Clean Sweep rather than a Madison Streets drop-off site. Clean Sweep is located at 7020 Maahic Way, Madison, WI 53718 and operates year-round.

Clean Sweep asks visitors to package materials upright in boxes or rigid totes, keep materials in original containers when possible, avoid mixing materials, remove all batteries from electronics and turn them in separately, and bring proof of Dane County residency.

Find Your Madison Trash and Recycling Schedule

If your real question is “what day is my recycling picked up?” you probably do not need a recycling center. Madison’s Streets Division says the 2026 and 2027 trash and recycling schedules are available online. Enter your address, review your next collection dates, then download the full collection schedule PDF if needed.

Before-You-Drive Checklist for Madison Drop-Off Sites

1. Confirm you are eligible. Bring proof of City of Madison residency or taxpayer status before using the drop-off sites.
2. Check the correct site and hours. East, West and Central sites keep the same posted hours, but holidays and severe weather can change access.
3. Sort by material at home. Separate cardboard, recycling, electronics, batteries, Styrofoam, cooking oil, yard waste, brush, large items and trash.
4. Flatten cardboard and empty boxes. Keep molded Styrofoam separate from cardboard.
5. Do not bring hazardous chemicals to the wrong place. Paint, fuels, solvents, pesticides and many chemicals belong at Dane County Clean Sweep.
6. Be ready to unload your own items. Madison says drop-off sites are self-service and attendants cannot unload your vehicle.
7. Use Recyclopedia if unsure. If the item is questionable, search Madison Recyclopedia or contact Streets before loading it.

Official Madison Recycling Links and Related Guides

Madison Recycling Center Map and Directions

The map below uses a broad Madison drop-off site search because the city has three active resident drop-off sites. Use the official location list to choose East, West or Central before driving. If your destination is household hazardous waste, use Dane County Clean Sweep at 7020 Maahic Way instead.

Frequently Asked Questions About Madison Recycling Center