Madison, WI / Dane County — National Doorstep Operational Compliance Hub: Chemicals + Batteries + Electronics + Bulk Item Routing
Important Compliance Note:
“Compliance Hub” is National Doorstep terminology used to identify practical local waste and recycling resources.
It is not an official designation of Dane County, the City of Madison, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, or any other government agency.
National Doorstep provides operational waste and recycling guidance and service support—not legal advice, a government inspection, regulatory certification, or a guarantee of compliance.
Last compliance review: August 14, 2026.
For materials that are prohibited from Wisconsin landfill or incinerator disposal, prohibited by a property’s waste provider,
or require specialized handling—including certain electronics, lithium/rechargeable batteries, and household hazardous materials—
residents should use the appropriate approved disposal or recycling pathway.
[1]
[9]
[10]
For household hazardous waste, one of the primary Dane County resources is
Dane County Clean Sweep, a year-round program serving eligible Dane County households.
[1]
Dane County Clean Sweep — Household Hazardous Waste + Certain Electronics
Primary facility:
Dane County Clean Sweep — 7020 Maahic Way, Madison, WI 53718
.
[1]
Current hours:
Monday–Friday, 7:15 AM–3:15 PM and
Saturday, 8:00 AM–10:45 AM.
Closed Sundays.
[1]
Residency:
Household users should bring proof of Dane County residency.
[1]
Clean Sweep Fees — Plan Before You Load the Car
Household HHW trip fee:
Dane County households currently pay a
$15 per-trip fee for household hazardous waste.
[2]
Televisions / computer monitors:
$15 each when accepted through Dane County Clean Sweep.
[2]
Large quantities:
Dane County may assess additional charges for unusually large quantities or loads representing multiple households.
Business and other non-household waste may be subject to different eligibility, appointment, and fee requirements.
[1]
- Clean Sweep address: 7020 Maahic Way, Madison, WI 53718 [1]
- HHW fee: $15 per household trip [2]
- TV / monitor fee: $15 each [2]
- Hours: Mon–Fri 7:15 AM–3:15 PM; Sat 8:00 AM–10:45 AM [1]
Property Manager Electronics Warning: resident-owned household electronics and property/business-owned electronics may have different legal disposal pathways. Dane County Clean Sweep identifies its electronics collection as available to qualifying residential sources and certain schools; commercial-source electronics should not automatically be routed there. Property managers disposing of business- or property-owned electronics should confirm eligibility with an approved electronics recycler before transport. [1] [10]
City of Madison Drop-Off Sites — Bulk Items + Recycling + Household Electronics
For City of Madison residents and property taxpayers:
the Streets Division operates drop-off sites for eligible large items, recycling, household batteries,
electronics, and other accepted materials.
These sites are for eligible City of Madison users and should not be presented as automatically available to every Dane County resident.
Proof of City residency or taxpayer status may be required.
[3]
Important:
1501 W. Badger Road is a Streets Division office and is
not the current west-side drop-off site.
[3]
Madison's Three Current Drop-Off Sites
- East: 4602 Sycamore Ave [3]
- West: 402 South Point Rd [3]
- Central: 1504 Quann-Olin Parkway [3]
2026 Madison Drop-Off Hours & Load Limits
For the City's expanded April 11–December 3, 2026 drop-off season, Madison lists the following schedule:
Monday: 7:30 AM–2:30 PM
Tuesday: 7:30 AM–7:00 PM
Wednesday: Closed
Thursday: 7:30 AM–7:00 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM–2:30 PM
Saturday: 9:00 AM–4:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
[3]
Load restriction:
City users are generally limited to
one trip per day, with a load no larger than approximately a pickup-truck bed or single-axle trailer.
Residents and property managers should verify current rules before transporting unusually large loads.
[3]
Madison Apartments With More Than 8 Units — Important Bulk-Waste Rule: Beginning in 2025, the City stopped providing its standard curbside large-item collection service to properties with more than eight units, including applicable apartment and condominium properties. Residents of qualifying Madison properties may still use City drop-off sites, but property management should maintain a clear private-property procedure for mattresses, furniture, appliances, move-out debris, and other bulky materials. [5]
Fee Stickers & Privately Serviced Apartment Properties
Some large items require payment of an applicable City recycling or disposal fee before they can be dropped off.
[5]
Important apartment distinction:
when the City of Madison collects the property's recycling, certain applicable recycling-item charges may be covered through the City's Resource Recovery Special Charge.
When the City does not collect the property's recycling, applicable item fees may have to be paid before drop-off.
[3]
[5]
Payment warning:
Drop-off attendants generally do not accept payment at the site.
When a fee is required, arrange payment or obtain the required fee authorization before transporting the item.
[5]
Electronics — Madison Residents Have a Free City Option
Wisconsin law prohibits disposal of certain covered electronics in Wisconsin landfills and municipal solid-waste incinerators.
Covered devices should be routed through an appropriate electronics recycling program.
[9]
[10]
City of Madison residents:
the Streets Division currently accepts many household electronics—including televisions and computers—at City drop-off sites
without an additional electronics recycling charge for eligible City users.
[4]
Dane County residents outside Madison:
Dane County Clean Sweep or another registered E-Cycle Wisconsin collection location may be appropriate, subject to the program's eligibility and fee requirements.
[1]
[10]
Commercial/property-owned electronics:
do not assume Madison Streets or Clean Sweep will accept electronics generated by a property-management business.
Use an appropriate recycler authorized to accept the specific commercial electronics involved.
[1]
[4]
Batteries — Alkaline vs. Lithium / Rechargeable
Alkaline AA / AAA and similar household batteries:
Wisconsin DNR states that ordinary alkaline batteries
may be placed in household trash, although recycling may still be available.
[8]
City of Madison option:
Madison residents can recycle several household battery types at Streets Division drop-off sites without a battery recycling fee.
Follow the City's current battery-preparation requirements, including taping terminals when instructed.
[7]
Lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries:
these batteries present a substantially higher fire risk when crushed or damaged in garbage trucks, compactors, and processing facilities.
They should be routed to an appropriate battery collection or recycling program rather than placed loose in an apartment dumpster.
[7]
[8]
Clean Sweep distinction:
verify the current Clean Sweep accepted-battery list before arrival.
Dane County distinguishes rechargeable/lithium battery collection from ordinary alkaline battery disposal.
[1]
Latex Paint — Follow Dane County Disposal Guidance
Latex paint is generally non-hazardous.
Dane County recommends solidifying unused latex paint rather than treating dried latex paint as household hazardous waste.
[6]
Dane County disposal guidance:
mix an appropriate absorbent such as kitty litter or other suitable material into the remaining latex paint and allow it to
solidify completely before disposal in ordinary trash, subject to the apartment property's own waste rules and hauler requirements.
[6]
Do not apply this guidance to oil-based paint, solvents, or other hazardous coatings.
Those materials may require Clean Sweep or another approved household-hazardous-waste pathway.
[1]
Property Manager Operating Priorities — Madison & Dane County
- Confirm Jurisdiction: Determine whether the property is actually inside the City of Madison or elsewhere in Dane County before providing City-specific drop-off instructions.
- Separate Resident Waste From Business Waste: Resident-owned household materials may qualify for programs that do not accept commercial or property-generated waste. Confirm source eligibility before management transports electronics, chemicals, or other regulated materials.
- 8+ Unit Bulk-Waste Planning: Madison properties with more than eight units should maintain a documented private bulk-item procedure because standard City curbside large-item collection is no longer provided to those properties. [5]
- Battery Fire Prevention: Keep lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries out of ordinary loose waste streams and provide residents with an appropriate collection pathway. [7] [8]
- Electronics: Educate residents that certain electronics cannot legally be disposed of in Wisconsin landfills or municipal solid-waste incinerators and should be routed to an approved electronics collection program. [9] [10]
- Hazardous Materials: Keep current resident guidance available for paints, solvents, gasoline, pesticides, pool chemicals, cleaners, and other household hazardous materials accepted through Clean Sweep. [1]
- Resident Education: Update move-in materials, resident portals, signs, and valet-trash instructions whenever local acceptance lists, hours, fees, or collection programs change.
- Documentation: Maintain records of bulk-waste arrangements, contamination notices, resident communications, enclosure conditions, and applicable City/private-hauler service arrangements.
How National Doorstep Fits Into the Property's Waste System
Compliance is operational.
National Doorstep helps multifamily property management standardize resident waste routines and reduce improper placement of
hazardous materials, lithium batteries, covered electronics, and uncontrolled bulky waste at apartment collection areas.
Our porters operate upstream from off-site garbage and recycling hauling.
At participating communities, properly prepared resident-setout material is moved from apartment doors to
property-designated dumpsters, compactors, recycling containers, or other approved collection points on private property.
National Doorstep does not replace the property's municipal, private, contracted, or otherwise required off-site waste
and recycling provider unless a separate lawful service arrangement expressly provides otherwise.
Need help reviewing your Madison or Dane County apartment waste setup?
National Doorstep can review your doorstep workflow, bulk-waste procedures, resident instructions, battery/electronics routing,
enclosure operations, and coordination with the property's existing waste and recycling service.
Request a Free Waste & Recycling Operational Compliance Review
Disclaimer: National Doorstep Pickup, LLC is a private service provider and is not affiliated with Dane County, the City of Madison, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Dane County Clean Sweep, Madison Streets Division, any waste/recycling provider, or any other valet trash company referenced on this page. This page provides general operational information and does not constitute legal advice, a government inspection, regulatory certification, or a guarantee of compliance. Facility hours, fees, residency requirements, program eligibility, accepted materials, disposal laws, and municipal collection policies may change. Property owners and managers should confirm current requirements with the applicable government agency, facility, waste/recycling provider, and other authorities having jurisdiction.
EEAT Sources: [1] Dane County — Clean Sweep (7020 Maahic Way; current hours; residency; accepted materials; household/business eligibility) | [2] Dane County — Fee Structure ($15 household HHW trip; $15 TVs/monitors) | [3] City of Madison Streets — Drop-Off Sites (Sycamore, South Point & Quann-Olin; residency; hours; load limits; fee rules) | [4] City of Madison Streets — Electronics (household electronics accepted at City drop-off sites; business-source limitations) | [5] City of Madison Streets — Large Items & Appliances (fees, drop-off requirements, large-item procedures) | [6] Dane County Clean Sweep — Accepted Materials & Latex Paint Guidance | [7] City of Madison Streets — Household Batteries (drop-off recycling; preparation requirements) | [8] Wisconsin DNR — Batteries (alkaline disposal; lithium/rechargeable recycling and fire-risk guidance) | [9] Wisconsin DNR — Materials Banned From Wisconsin Landfills & Incinerators | [10] Wisconsin DNR — E-Cycle Wisconsin (covered electronics and approved recycling pathways)
Madison and Dane County apartment owners, asset managers, regional managers, and on-site property managers: Wisconsin law requires effective recycling programs throughout the state and establishes specific duties for owners or designated agents of buildings containing five or more dwelling units. Within Madison, those statewide requirements are implemented through the City's current Madison General Ordinances §10.18.
For covered 5+ unit multifamily properties, the property-management responsibility goes beyond simply placing a recycling dumpster beside the trash dumpster. Applicable requirements include adequate separate recycling containers, sufficient capacity, written tenant education at leasing and at least semi-annually thereafter, and an arrangement for collection and delivery of applicable separated recyclables to a recycling facility.
Important threshold distinction: Wisconsin's specific multifamily-owner requirements discussed on this page apply to structures containing five or more residential units. Residents of smaller properties are still subject to applicable Wisconsin recycling and landfill/incinerator disposal rules, but the 5+ unit owner/agent provisions should not be incorrectly described as having no minimum unit threshold.
Wisconsin Multifamily Compliance — 5+ Units
Under Wisconsin's recycling framework, an owner or designated agent of an applicable 5+ unit residential building must provide an effective means for residents to participate in the required recycling program.
National Doorstep can support these operational requirements, but property ownership or its designated agent remains responsible for the property's legal recycling obligations. A doorstep collection program does not eliminate the need for required recycling containers, an appropriate off-site recycling arrangement, resident education, or compliance with the applicable Responsible Unit program.
Last regulatory review: August 14, 2026.
2025 Wisconsin NR 544 Capacity Rule — What 5+ Unit Properties Need to Know
Wisconsin's updated effective-recycling-program standards took effect July 1, 2025. For covered multifamily properties, the applicable recycling ordinance must require the number of recycling containers to equal or exceed the number of trash containers.
In addition, the property must satisfy at least one of the following recycling-capacity methods:
- 20-Gallon Method: minimum total recycling-container volume equals at least 20 gallons per week per dwelling unit; or
- 2:1 Ratio Method: total trash-container volume to recycling-container volume is no greater than 2:1; or
- No-Overflow Alternative: another service/container method that does not result in recycling-container overflow between collections.
Property manager takeaway: the 20-gallon figure and 2:1 ratio are not the only compliance methods. Container count, volume, and collection frequency should be evaluated together.
At a Glance: City of Madison vs. Dane County Municipalities
City of Madison
- Multifamily Threshold: Wisconsin/Madison multifamily-owner duties apply to 5+ unit buildings.
- Containers: Provide adequate separate recycling containers. Recycling-container count must equal or exceed trash-container count, plus satisfy one of the three capacity methods described above.
- Tenant Notice: Provide written recycling instructions when renting or leasing and at least semi-annually thereafter.
- Collection: Arrange collection and delivery of applicable separated recyclables to a recycling facility. Properties not served by the City's collection system must arrange private trash and recycling collection.
- Special Materials: Not every Wisconsin landfill-banned material belongs in the property's ordinary onsite recycling container. Resident instructions should identify lawful drop-off or special-handling pathways where appropriate.
- Current Ordinance: Madison's recreated §10.18 under ORD-26-00020 became effective May 1, 2026.
Dane County & Other Municipalities
- Statewide Baseline: Wisconsin recycling law applies statewide, including Dane County municipalities.
- Responsible Unit Structure: every municipality must be covered by an effective recycling program, but the Responsible Unit (RU) does not necessarily have to be the city itself.
- 5+ Unit Buildings: the statewide multifamily framework requires covered owners/agents to provide containers, resident education, and collection/delivery arrangements.
- Local Service Varies: city-provided collection thresholds, private-hauler requirements, recycling centers, bulky-waste programs, and enforcement procedures differ by municipality.
- Property Manager Priority: confirm both the statewide 5+ unit baseline and the actual local RU/municipal collection system before changing a property's service.
- Official RU Lookup: Wisconsin DNR — Municipality / Responsible Unit Lookup
Dane County Cities — Multifamily Recycling & Property Manager Information
The statewide Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies regardless of whether a city itself collects the property's trash and recycling. The table below separates that statewide owner/agent responsibility from local collection and property-management details.
Table navigation: Swipe or scroll horizontally to view every column. The first column remains fixed.
| City | Multifamily Recycling Framework | Relevant Information for Owners & Property Managers | Official / Primary Resources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madison |
Yes — Wisconsin 5+ unit requirements + Madison §10.18.
Madison's current ordinance directly incorporates updated Wisconsin multifamily recycling requirements. |
For covered 5+ unit properties, ownership or its designated agent should:
Private-hauler issue: Madison's current §10.18 states that properties not served by City collection must arrange trash and recycling collection with private waste haulers. Bulk-waste issue: Madison no longer provides its ordinary large-item curbside collection service to properties with more than eight units under the City's current large-item collection policy. Larger apartment properties should maintain a separate documented bulk-item/move-out procedure. |
ORD-26-00020
Madison Streets — Trash & Recycling Large-Item Rule for Larger Properties |
| Sun Prairie |
Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies.
Sun Prairie's municipal collection structure distinguishes smaller residential properties from larger multifamily properties. |
Sun Prairie's current recycling information indicates that ordinary City curbside refuse/recycling service
is associated with 1–4 unit dwellings, while residents of
5+ unit multifamily properties have a separate paid-permit pathway for using the
City's Recycling Center.
Property manager takeaway: resident access to a drop-off facility is not a substitute for the owner's Wisconsin 5+ unit recycling responsibilities. Management should ensure the property maintains an appropriate onsite recycling system, sufficient container capacity, resident education, and a compliant collection/delivery arrangement. Keep management's instructions separate from the resident's optional Recycling Center privileges, and verify the current private or contracted hauler serving the property. |
Recycling & Recycle Center
Multifamily Recycle Center Permits |
| Fitchburg |
Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies.
Fitchburg's City collection program serves residential properties up to four units. |
Fitchburg currently states that City collection is provided to single-family homes, duplexes,
and multifamily dwellings up to four units.
5+ unit property manager takeaway: larger apartment communities should not assume that City carts or residential collection automatically cover the property. Management should confirm and maintain an appropriate private trash and recycling collection arrangement while complying with Wisconsin's 5+ unit container, capacity, tenant-education, and collection requirements. Match service frequency to actual property volume and document the hauler, container sizes, pickup schedule, accepted materials, and contamination procedures. |
Fitchburg — Solid Waste
City of Fitchburg |
| Middleton |
Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies.
Middleton maintains a municipal recycling program and code within Wisconsin's RU framework. |
For 5+ unit Middleton apartment properties, management should use Wisconsin's current
multifamily requirements as the baseline:
adequate separate containers, recycling-container count at least equal to trash-container count,
sufficient capacity, semiannual tenant education, and collection/delivery arrangements.
Middleton Public Works materials have specifically discussed compliance oversight for multifamily properties larger than four units. Property manager action: confirm the property's current municipal/private service arrangement and do not assume that a service offered to smaller residential properties automatically applies to a larger apartment community. |
Middleton Municipal Code
City of Middleton |
| Monona |
Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies.
Monona currently contracts with Pellitteri Waste Systems for residential trash and recycling collection. |
Monona's current Public Works page includes specific resources for
owners of apartments and multifamily dwellings.
Property manager action: confirm whether the individual apartment property is included in the City's contracted collection structure or requires a property-specific service arrangement. Regardless of collection mechanism, a covered 5+ unit owner/agent should maintain the Wisconsin multifamily recycling program requirements. Keep onsite containers clearly differentiated, maintain sufficient capacity, and give residents instructions that match Pellitteri's or the property's actual recycler's accepted-material rules. |
Monona Trash & Recycling
City of Monona |
| Stoughton |
Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies.
Stoughton currently identifies John's Disposal as its municipal garbage and recycling collection provider. |
Stoughton's current recycling information uses a separate recycling cart and provides local
accepted-material and cart-placement instructions.
Property manager action: confirm whether the particular apartment property participates in the City's standard cart program or has a separate multifamily/commercial account. For covered 5+ unit properties, management should still satisfy Wisconsin's owner/agent requirements regardless of who performs collection. Where one recycling container is insufficient, service frequency or capacity should be increased rather than allowing recurring overflow. |
Stoughton Garbage & Recycling
Stoughton Code |
| Verona |
Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies.
Verona's City-contracted residential collection program currently serves one-, two-, three-, and four-unit residential properties. |
Verona states that its Public Works contracted collection program covers
1–4 unit residential properties.
Larger multifamily properties should therefore verify and maintain their own applicable
collection arrangement rather than assuming they receive the City's small-residential service.
Verona also adopted a significant recycling-code update in 2026. Property manager action: for a 5+ unit property, maintain the Wisconsin baseline of adequate separate recycling containers, current capacity, semiannual tenant communication, and collection/delivery arrangements. Confirm Verona-specific requirements and the property's private provider before changing service. |
Verona Refuse & Recycling
Verona Code — Title 8 |
| Edgerton — Dane County Portion |
Wisconsin 5+ unit multifamily baseline applies.
Edgerton spans Dane and Rock Counties; City requirements and the applicable RU program should be confirmed for the specific property. |
Do not assume that Dane County service information automatically controls an incorporated Edgerton property.
The Wisconsin 5+ unit owner/agent recycling baseline remains important, but the local service provider,
collection schedule, enforcement authority, and special-material programs should be verified through
Edgerton and the current DNR RU listing.
Property manager action: maintain written documentation of the property's hauler, recycling program, container capacity, resident notices, and collection schedule. |
City of Edgerton
Wisconsin DNR — RU Lookup |
| Other Dane County Cities, Villages & Towns |
Wisconsin recycling law applies statewide.
The responsible unit may be the municipality itself or another qualifying local-government arrangement. |
Owners and managers of qualifying 5+ unit buildings should not rely solely on a countywide
assumption.
Confirm:
|
Wisconsin DNR — Responsible Units
Municipality-to-RU Lookup |
Madison & Wisconsin Recycling Fines & Penalties Snapshot
- Madison — General §10.18 Violations: Under Madison's recreated 2026 ordinance, except where a separate penalty applies, violations may be subject to: $50–$200 for the first offense within 12 months; $100–$300 for the second offense within 12 months; and $250–$500 for the third and subsequent violations within a 12-month period.
- Madison — Each Day: The current ordinance expressly provides that each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.
- Madison — Certain Large-Item / Electronic-Waste Violations: Separate provisions can carry a higher schedule of $50–$200 for a first offense, $200–$500 for a second offense, and $500–$1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
- Wisconsin State Disposal / Incineration Penalties: Wis. Stat. §287.95 includes escalating forfeitures for applicable violations of the state's landfill/incineration disposal prohibitions, including $50 for a first violation, $200 for a second violation, and up to $2,000 for a third or subsequent violation in the applicable statutory circumstances.
- Do Not Combine Penalty Theories: The state §287.95 disposal penalty should not automatically be described as the penalty for missing a semiannual tenant notice or failing a particular container-capacity test. Local/RU enforcement and state disposal prohibitions are related but legally distinct.
- Other Dane County Municipalities: Do not automatically apply Madison's daily-forfeiture schedule to Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, Middleton, Monona, Stoughton, Verona, Edgerton, or another municipality. Verify the applicable local/RU ordinance and penalty section.
Wisconsin Statutes §287.95 — State Penalties | Madison ORD-26-00020
Madison & Dane County Multifamily Recycling Compliance Checklist
Table navigation: Swipe or scroll horizontally to view every column. The first column remains fixed.
| Property Manager Task | Action / Regulatory or Operational Requirement | Helpful Official Resources |
|---|---|---|
| ☑ Confirm the 5+ Unit Threshold |
Determine whether the building contains
five or more residential dwelling units.
Wisconsin's specific multifamily owner/agent requirements addressed here apply to that 5+ unit category.
Do not publish or train staff using the incorrect statement that the specific multifamily-owner rule has “no minimum unit count.” |
Wis. Stat. §287.11
NR 544 |
| ☑ Confirm Municipality & RU |
Identify the property's exact municipality and determine which
Responsible Unit serves it.
An RU may be a city, village, town, county, tribe, solid-waste management system, or another qualifying unit of local government. Do not assume the city itself is necessarily the RU. |
DNR — Responsible Units
RU Lookup |
| ☑ Provide Separate Recycling Containers |
For covered 5+ unit properties, provide
adequate separate recycling containers for the applicable onsite recycling program.
Do not imply that every material appearing on Wisconsin's disposal-ban list must be collected in the property's ordinary recycling dumpster. Special materials such as lead-acid batteries, appliances, waste oil, tires, electronics, and other regulated materials may require separate lawful handling. |
DNR — Materials Banned From Disposal |
| ☑ Count Recycling Containers |
For covered multifamily properties under the updated NR 544 framework,
the number of recycling containers must equal or exceed the number of trash containers.
Review the actual number of dumpsters, carts, compactors, and recycling receptacles rather than evaluating volume alone. |
NR 544 |
| ☑ Meet a Capacity Method |
In addition to container count, use at least one applicable capacity method:
1) at least 20 gallons of recycling-container volume per week per dwelling unit; 2) trash-to-recycling container-volume ratio no greater than 2:1; or 3) another method that prevents recycling-container overflow between collections. Document whichever method is being used. |
NR 544 Capacity Requirements |
| ☑ Notify Residents at Leasing |
Provide written recycling instructions
at the time of renting or leasing.
Explain: materials collected onsite, preparation requirements, container location, contamination rules, and available drop-off pathways for applicable materials not collected onsite. |
NR 544 |
| ☑ Send Semiannual Recycling Education |
Covered multifamily owners/designated agents should provide the required written recycling information
at least semi-annually thereafter.
Maintain copies or electronic records showing the date and content of resident communications. Lease documents alone should not be treated as the only ongoing resident-education step. |
Wisconsin DNR — Multifamily Recycling Guide |
| ☑ Maintain Collection & Delivery |
Arrange for applicable recyclables separated by residents to be collected and delivered to an
appropriate recycling facility.
For properties using private service, maintain the current hauler agreement, pickup schedule, container list, and recycler/processing information in the property file. |
DNR — Solid Waste & Recycling Haulers |
| ☑ Prevent Recycling Overflow |
Inspect recycling areas regularly.
Recurring overflow is a strong operational indicator that container volume, container count,
collection frequency, contamination controls, or resident education should be adjusted.
Document changes made in response to recurring capacity issues. |
NR 544 |
| ☑ Match Signage to the Actual Recycler |
Resident signage should match the materials actually accepted by the property's recycling provider.
Do not create a generic “Wisconsin recyclable” sign that instructs residents to place special materials such as batteries, appliances, electronics, tires, oil, or hazardous materials into a standard mixed-recycling container when the hauler does not accept them. |
Wisconsin DNR — Recycling |
| ☑ Separate E-Waste & Special Materials |
Maintain resident instructions for electronic waste, lead-acid batteries, major appliances,
tires, waste oil, household hazardous waste, and other materials that require a separate disposal pathway.
In Madison, certain electronic waste is expressly prohibited from ordinary disposal and must be routed to an authorized recycling pathway. |
E-Cycle Wisconsin
Dane County Clean Sweep |
| ☑ Build a Bulk / Move-Out Procedure |
Establish a written procedure for furniture, mattresses, appliances, televisions,
abandoned move-out material, and oversized waste.
Madison-specific: properties with more than eight units should account for the City's current limitation on standard large-item curbside service and arrange a lawful property-specific solution. |
Madison Larger-Property Large-Item Rule |
| ☑ Maintain Recommended Property Documentation |
Recommended operational documentation — not represented here as a separate statutory “site plan” mandate:
maintain a property recycling file containing:
|
Wisconsin DNR — RU Resources |
| ☑ Review Mixed-Use Properties Separately |
A property containing apartments plus restaurants, offices, retail, institutional,
or other nonresidential uses may have separate nonresidential recycling obligations and waste streams.
Do not treat the apartment program as automatically satisfying every obligation of a commercial tenant. |
NR 544 |
How National Doorstep Supports Multifamily Recycling Compliance
National Doorstep operates upstream from off-site trash and recycling hauling. At participating apartment communities, our porters can move properly prepared resident-setout trash and recyclable materials from apartment doors to property-designated collection locations on private property under authorization from ownership or management.
A structured doorstep program can support:
- consistent resident set-out procedures;
- clear trash-versus-recycling separation;
- resident education and reminders;
- contamination identification;
- documented service activity;
- reduced loose waste around collection areas;
- better visibility into recurring overflow conditions; and
- coordination with the property's authorized off-site waste and recycling provider.
National Doorstep provides operational compliance support. The property owner or designated agent remains responsible for applicable Wisconsin, Responsible Unit, municipal, lease, hauler, building, fire, and other property-specific requirements.
Need help reviewing your Madison or Dane County apartment recycling setup? National Doorstep can review your current doorstep workflow, recycling-container configuration, service frequency, resident instructions, contamination process, bulk-waste procedures, and coordination with your existing waste/recycling provider.
Request a Free Waste & Recycling Operational Compliance ReviewThis page provides general operational and educational information and is not legal advice, a government inspection, a regulatory certification, an official Responsible Unit determination, or a guarantee of compliance.
Municipal ordinances, Responsible Unit assignments, collection contracts, accepted materials, service eligibility, container requirements, enforcement procedures, penalties, and provider rules may change.
Property owners and managers should verify requirements for the specific property with the applicable municipality, Responsible Unit, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, authorized waste/recycling provider, and other authorities having jurisdiction before relying on this information for a legal or regulatory determination.
Authoritative Recycling & Property Management Sources
Wisconsin State Law & Administrative Code:
Wisconsin Statutes §287.11 — Effective Recycling Programs / 5+ Unit Owner Requirements
|
Wisconsin Administrative Code — Chapter NR 544
|
Wisconsin Statutes §287.95 — Disposal / Incineration Penalties
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources:
Responsible Unit Recycling Programs
|
Municipality-to-RU Lookup
|
Materials Banned From Wisconsin Landfills & Incinerators
|
DNR — Recycling for Owners of Apartments & Multifamily Housing
City of Madison:
ORD-26-00020 — 2026 Solid Waste Code Update
|
Madison Streets — Trash & Recycling
|
Large-Item Collection — Larger Properties
Sun Prairie:
Recycling & Recycle Center Information
|
Recycle Center Permit — Multifamily Residents
Fitchburg:
Fitchburg Solid Waste
Middleton:
Middleton Municipal Code
|
City of Middleton
Monona:
Monona Trash & Recycling Collection
Stoughton:
Stoughton Garbage & Recycling
|
Stoughton Code of Ordinances
Verona:
Verona Refuse & Recycling
|
Verona Code — 2026 Recycling Update
Edgerton:
City of Edgerton
|
Wisconsin DNR Responsible Unit Lookup
Dane County Special Waste:
Dane County Clean Sweep
|
Dane County Department of Waste & Renewables
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