Brush, Leaves & Yard Waste

2018 Brush Collection

The City has contracted with Barnes, Inc. for curbside brush collection.  Brush is collected 4 times per year with each collection divided into 4 districts.  If you're not sure which district you reside in, click to view a map or a listing of districts by street.

New in 2018:  Pile Size Limit

In order to continue to offer an efficient and affordable curbside brush collection program for all residents, the City Council has adopted a program change for 2018. The program is a service that provides a way for residents to dispose of brush generated from routine tree trimmings and yard maintenance; it is not a means for disposing of entire trees. Therefore, there are now limits to the amount of brush that can be placed at the curb for each collection.  The size of your brush pile must be no larger than 4 feet high x 4 feet wide x 10 feet long (4' x 4' x 10').

2018 Brush Collection Schedule

DISTRICT 1
DISTRICT 2
DISTRICT 3
DISTRICT 4
April 9
April 16
April 23
April 30
June 4
June 11
June 18
June 25
August 6
August 13
August 20
August 27
October 8
October 15
October 22
October 29

View a map of brush collection districts         

View a listing of brush collection districts by street

Yard Waste Drop-Off Site



Monona's free yard waste drop-off site for leaves, grass clippings, and garden waste (shown below) is open through late fall. The site is located at the Public Works Garage on Edna Taylor Parkway, between Femrite Drive and East Broadway, next to the Monona Dog Park.  The site is open 24/7.
yard waste site3

Fall Leaf Collection



Fall curbside leaf collection will begin in the month of October.  Residents should place leaves in the terrace at the curb (but not in the street or the gutter) for collection by the City's vacuum trucks. Brush must be kept separate from leaves at the curb. There are no districts for leaf collection.  Vacuum trucks circle the city collecting piles as they see them.  Curbside collection will continue until the first measurable snowfall prevents further collection. Residents may also dispose of leaves at the City's yard waste drop-off site (see above).

Help stop leaves from entering the lake.  Adopt a storm drain in your neighborhood!

Brush Collection Requirements


  • Residents should place their brush at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Monday of their scheduled collection week. Once the collection for a street is completed, crews will not return until the next scheduled pick-up week.  We cannot ensure collection of brush if it is not at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Monday.
  • Residents should not place their brush at the curb more than 14 days before their scheduled pick up week.
  • The free collection is for routine tree trimmings and yard maintenance; it is not for the disposal of entire trees.  Brush generated by a private contractor must be disposed of by the contractor.
  • Brush pile size should not exceed 4' x 4' x 10'.  Limbs should not exceed 6 inches in diameter and 10 feet in length. Residents who have more brush than allowed per the pile size limit must remove or dispose of the brush within 7 days after the scheduled collection. Options for disposing of the additional brush include:
    • Contact Barnes, Inc. at (608) 845-3230 or any tree company of your choice to have the additional brush collected for a fee.
    • Take the additional brush to the Dane County Landfill for a disposal fee of $10, up to 500 pounds.
  • Brush should be uniformly stacked behind the curb, untangled, with all cut ends facing the street or parallel with the street facing the direction of traffic for your side of the street.
  • Keep brush separate from other refuse at the curb and do not mix brush with other yard waste.  Brush which is mixed with leaves, garden waste or yard waste can not be collected.
  • Tree roots, root balls, stumps, and logs can not be chipped without damaging the machinery. Remove any roots or root balls and place these in your regular trash.
  • Thorny brush should be piled separately so as to minimize injury to collection personnel.

Dropping Off Your Brush


The City of Monona does not have a drop-off site for brush. Outside of the regular brush collection schedule, residents who have brush to dispose of will need to contact a private contractor.  The Dane County Landfill (located on Hwy. 12 just east of Interstate 90) will also take brush for a fee.