Resource Recovery Special Charge

If your recycling is collected by the Streets Division, then you pay the Resource Recovery Special Charge on your Municipal Services (water) bill. 

If you don't have your recycling collected by the Streets Division, then you do not pay the Resource Recovery Special Charge. 

Residential properties 8 units and less are automatically enrolled into receiving recycling collection from the City of Madison. 

Residential properties larger than 8 units cannot use City of Madison collection services.  Recycling is required in Madison. You cannot opt out.  Properties with more than 8 units must use a private company to provide recycling collection. 

Commercial properties must apply in order to receive recycling collection from the Streets Division. Not all commercial properties are eligible to receive recycling collection from the Streets Division. 

Current Rate

On September 1, 2026 the rate increased to $5.40 a month for the remainder of this year.

  • The special charge began the year being charged $3.50 a month. An adjustment was passed by Common Council on August 4, 2026 to make up for a shortfall of funding to address high costs (such as diesel fuel) and low revenue in order to pay for existing recycling services. No new services were created by the rate increase.

A new rate for 2027 will be established as part of the operating budget process. 

Residential Users

This is a flat rate charged per dwelling unit.

For example, if your property has two units, like it is a duplex or perhaps you have added an ADU, then the RRSC for the property is the monthly rate times two.  

In this example, for the remainder of 2026 a two-unit property would be charged $10.80 each month. (2 x $5.40 = $10.80) 

Commercial Users

The rate is charged per the number of collection carts you need to hold to the recycling your business generates.

For example, if your business needs four (4) recycling carts to hold all of the cardboard and other recyclables then you will be charged the current rate times four each month.  

In this example, the monthly charge for the remainder of 2026 would be $21.60 per month.  (4 x $5.40 = $21.60) 

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