Yard Waste:
Please be aware that we will need to strictly enforce the existing policy that plastic bags must NOT be tied shut. Plastic bags that are tied shut will not be collected. This has always been the policy, but has not been strictly enforced until May of 2023. Tying your plastic bags shut requires the crews to cut each one open, which greatly increases the time of collection and expense to the City. Please leave lids off of reusable containers and poly bags untied as well. Compostable bags can be shut, however, as the whole bag will be taken.
Carts should be out by the street by 7:00 am. The time your trash or recycling is picked up may vary from week to week. Both trash and recyclables are collected every week. Trash and recycling carts are collected separately and may be serviced at different times of the day.
Carts should be placed within two feet of the street, but not in the street. It should be placed on level ground. Leave four feet between the cart and other objects such as mailboxes, utility poles, and trees. Leave 10 feet between the carts and parked cars. The handles of the carts should face your house so that the lids open properly when being dumped. Carts cannot be collected if they are improperly placed. In the winter, you may need to shovel out areas for your carts just like you do for mail delivery.
Contact the City of Sun Prairie Public Works (608-837-3050) if you would like a different size. The City owns and manages their carts.
If you have extra recycling that does not fit into the cart with the lid shut, we can pick up extra bags for a pre-paid fee. Extra recycling must be placed in a clear, plastic bag (32-gallons or less and no more than 50 lbs) and set next to your recycling cart. Please contact us to make arrangements at least one day before your pickup day. Extra cardboard must be flattened and placed in clear plastic bags as well. Do not tie or bundle cardboard. The lid on your cart should shut; in order to prevent messes, please do not overload carts. If you consistently have additional recycling, you could consider a larger or additional recycling cart.
Cardboard only: The City of Sun Prairie Recycling Center accepts many items for recycling, including cardboard. Please visit their website for more information. Please note that they do not accept mixed recycling (paper, plastic, etc.).
If you have extra trash that does not fit into your cart with the lid shut, we will pick up extra bags for a pre-paid fee. Extra bags should be 32-gallons or less and no more than 50lbs. Please contact us to make arrangements at least one day before your pickup day. The lid on your cart should shut; in order to prevent messes, please do not overload carts. If you consistently have additional trash, you could consider a larger or additional trash cart.
Additional carts are available for an annual fee. These will be provided by Pellitteri Waste Systems, not by the City of Sun Prairie. Please contact us for pricing and scheduling.
Some items may be taken to the City of Sun Prairie Recycling Center, such as non-freon appliances. Please click here for the City's website with more information. For items that that cannot be taken to the Recycling Center, please make a list of the items you would like to discard, including the type of material they are made out of, then contact us. We will give you options, instructions, and schedule your pickup on the next available date. There is a fee for this service; we're always happy to recommend additional options if they are available.
Only household trash can be put in your cart. Do not place recyclables, yardwaste/brush, construction materials, electronics, or hazardous materials in your cart.
The automated collection program is not intended to provide this type of service. We do offer temporary dumpsters that come in 6, 12, 20 and 30 cubic yard sizes to meet your needs. We recommend contacting us prior to the start of your cleanout for a quote.
The automated cart dumping process lifts the container upside down and stops with a slight jolt. If the material is wedged tightly the material may not come out. Please put the heavier items in the bottom of the cart and do not compact the material.
If your cart is damaged (cracked, broken lid, broken wheel, etc.) or missing altogether, please contact the City of Sun Prairie by calling (608) 837-3050.
Many factors can contribute to whether carts remain upright after being emptied. The automated system uses hydraulic arms to pick up the cart and dump it into the truck which are controlled by a joystick from inside the truck. The carts tend to be top-heavy once empty, especially 35 gallon carts and 65 gallon carts. Depending on how flat the surface of where the cart has been set, as well the size of the cart, how heavy the contents of the cart were, moisture on the outside of the cart, and the amount of wind, it can be very difficult to set the carts down without them tipping over. Due to safety concerns for both residents and the drivers, the drivers are not able to get out of their trucks to set cart back upright at every home. There are many benefits to the automated system, especially for safety and cost savings to residents. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation with the automated system.
Brush and yard waste cannot be placed in your trash or recycling carts. Brush and yard waste are both banned from landfills in Wisconsin. Please check with your local municipality to see how you are supposed to handle your brush or yard waste. Many municipalities have drop-off sites and some may provide curbside pickup. Brush is generally defined as branches or limbs while yard waste includes grass clippings, leaves, weeds, vines, vegetable/plant matter, hay/straw, and twigs less than half an inch in diameter (roughly as thick as your thumb) and less than 12 inches long. The only exception is “invasive plant species” (or “noxious weeds”), which must go to the landfill. Pellitteri customers must place invasive plant species in black trash bags in your trash container with a note on the bag that says it contains invasive plant species so drivers don’t think it’s yard waste. Common invasive plant species include garlic mustard, honeysuckle, purple loosestrife, buckthorn and more.
