Solid Waste (Refuse & Recycling)
When is the next brush collection? What week is recycle week? What day is a recognized holiday? For these questions and more, please see our 2013 Collection Calendar
General Information
Pellitteri Waste Systems is Fitchburg's contracted residential waste hauler from January 2009 to December 2014. If you have questions or problems with your refuse or recycling service, you can contact Pellitteri Waste Systems at 257-HAUL (4285) or Fitchburg Public Works at 270-4260, publicworks@city.fitchburg.wi.us.
The 2013 Collection Calendar show collection days for Refuse, Recycling, Brush and Yardwaste. Our service map shows collections days in the city. Fitchburg's Recycling Drop Off Site is available to city residents to dispose of yardwaste, used motor oil, scrap metal, and recyclable items. If you have a large amount of refuse or need to dispose of large items please contact Pellitteri directly to arrange a special pick up. Fitchburg's Recycling Guide has recommendations on how to reduce, reuse, recycle or otherwise dispose of unwanted items. Hard copies are available in the 2nd and 3rd Floor Lobbies of City Hall and at the Fitchburg Public Library. |
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Curbside Refuse & Recycling Collection
All residents are provided with weekly curbside collection. You must use the City-provided recycling (blue) and refuse (green) carts. Residents must have their materials at the curb by 6:30 a.m. on their collection day. Material may not be set out prior to 6:00 p.m. the night before collection. Carts must be removed from the curb within 12 hours after collection. Carts can not be stored in front of a garage or in a side yard. Additional recyclables that do not fit in the cart and that are placed in a clear plastic bag will be collected for no additional charge. Refuse tags are not needed for additional recyclables. Additional refuse that will not fit within the City-provided cart may be bagged and placed curbside with the appropriate Refuse tag.
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Recycling (Blue) Carts are currently emptied every other week.
Refuse (Green) Carts are currently emptied every week. |
Carts must be placed at least 4 (four) feet from other objects and should not be placed in the street. The photo above shows the recommended placement. Place your cart at the edge of your driveway or terrace (within 3 feet of the street). Carts in the curb line or street can be hit and damaged by traffic.
Your materials may be collected one day later than usual during the following holiday weeks in 2013
New Years Day- Week of January 1st
Memorial Day- Week of May 26th
4th of July- Week of July 1st
Labor Day - Week of September 2nd
Thanksgiving - Week of November 25th
Christmas - Week of December 23rd
Refuse Tag Program
Under the Refuse Tag program, households may purchase Refuse tags which allows you to dispose of additional refuse that does not fit into the refuse cart. Each tag allows you to set out one extra 32-gallon bag of refuse. You may purchase tags as needed at:
- Fitchburg City Hall 5520 Lacy Road 270-4200
- Walgreens, 2931 South Fish Hatchery Road 277-0087
Tags sell for $17.00 for a sheet of five tags (2013 price). If you use a tag to set out an extra bag of refuse, wrap the tag around the top of the bag so that it affixes to itself. If you dispose of additional refuse more than twice each month, consider subscribing to a larger cart or check out our waste reduction tips. For questions regarding the tag program or extra waste you may contact Pellitteri at 257-4285
Refuse & Recycling Collection Fees
New construction homes that will need carts for the first time or homes that need replacement carts due to loss, damage, etc. will be charged a one-time fee of $58.00 per cart payable to Pellitteri Waste Systems. The Real Estate Property Tax Bills for 2012 include a $142.00 fee per residential unit for 2013 collection of refuse (35-gallon cart), recyclables (65-gallon cart), yard waste (placed in bags at curb), and brush (placed at curb). This is labeled "Trash P/U on the property tax bill. Instead of the base 35-gallon cart, residents may subscribe to 65-gallon or 95-gallon service for an additional fee, payable directly to Pellitteri Waste Systems.
Additional Cost for Refuse Cart larger than the 35-Gallon standard size
Refuse Cart Size |
2013 Additional Charge |
65-Gallon |
$28.80/year |
95-Gallon |
$52.80/year |
There is also a $15 cart exchange fee for switching carts.
Call Pellitteri Waste Systems at 257-HAUL (4285) to subscribe to a larger recycling or refuse cart and/or switch out your existing cart.
Upcoming Events
Fitchburg Household Organics Collection Report
Wisconsin's Recycling Leader
The City of Fitchburg has a comprehensive, nationally recognized, curbside recycling program.
In 2012, Fitchburg households recycled 636 tons of glass, plastic, and metal containers. Recycling these materials into new products rather than using virgin raw materials, saved the energy equivalent of over 194,933 gallons of oil.
Households also recycled 1,438 tons of paper, saving the equivalent of over 24,400 trees and an additional 136,360 gallons of oil.
These recycling efforts have also reduced the emission of air pollutants and greenhouse gases by 4,350 tons.
As a part of the DNR Recycling Grant, Fitchburg reports refuse and recycling numbers annually. The 2012 report was submitted in April for review.
Fitchburg Waste Sorts
In 2009 Fitchburg conducted a waste sort to determine just what was being recycled and going to the landfill from our residents. Fitchburg and Pellitteri did a follow up waste sort in 2012 of refuse, recycling and organics carts.

