Janesville Leaf Pickup and Yard Waste Collection 2026

Loose leaf collection, November 9 to 20, 2026

The city runs loose leaf collection as an intensive two-week sweep, posted on a neighborhood map. The dates on the map are the earliest the crews arrive, and delays happen. For comparison, 2025's collection ran November 10 to 21, 2025 (City of Janesville, 2026 dates, 2025 dates). The city also says the program helps it meet state and federal stormwater rules, which is why the timing rules are strict.

1. Keep leaves on the terrace, not in the street, until a few days before your date.
2. 1 to 2 days before your scheduled day, rake them loosely into the street gutter.
3. Keep storm sewer inlets clear so the street does not flood.
4. Keep cars off the street on collection day so the crew can reach the gutter.
5. Never rake leaves into the gutter before October 1 or after the crew has passed: crews pass each street once.

If your trash day falls in the same window, the city asks that carts sit on the terrace or near the curb line in the driveway, with room for the leaf crew to work (City of Janesville, fall loose leaf collection).

Bagged yard waste and brush, two weeks a year

Outside the leaf sweep, the city picks up yard waste at the curb only two weeks a year, on your regular garbage day: May 4 to 8, 2026 in spring and November 30 to December 4, 2026 in fall (City of Janesville, bagged yard waste).

• Grass, leaves and garden debris in paper biodegradable bags or reusable containers up to 35 gallons.
• Each bag or container under 50 pounds. Plastic bags have not been accepted since fall 2023.
• Brush in bundles no longer than 4 feet, no more than 12 inches across, no heavier than 50 pounds.
• At the curb, a few feet from the trash cart, by 7 a.m. on collection day.

The Compost Site and Clean Fill Facility

The city site sits on Black Bridge Road just east of Highway 51. Grass, leaves and garden debris are free for Janesville residents and not accepted from outside the city. Brush, branches, shrubs and stumps cost $6 a cubic yard for residents and $8 for others. Hours are Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. from April to October and Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. in November; the site is closed from early December to the end of March, and weather can shift those dates, so call City Services at (608) 755-3110. Loads have to be covered or tarped, except brush (ordinance 30-43), and residents can take finished compost home (City of Janesville, compost site).

Two rules that apply all year

Grass clippings and lawn debris may never go into the gutter or street, in any season (ordinance 34-341, City of Janesville, stormwater). And burning trash, grass or leaves is prohibited inside city limits. Leaving clippings and a light layer of mulched leaves on the lawn is the option the city itself lists first.

The neighboring communities

Beloit sells a $125 leaf vacuum subscription for loose leaves (City of Beloit, fall yard waste); Milton has no brush drop-off of its own (City of Milton, brush collection); Edgerton, Evansville and Orfordville run their own drop sites for their residents (Edgerton, Evansville, Orfordville). Each community page has the full rules.

When the city schedule does not fit yours

Leaves that fall after the crew has passed, a yard too big to rake to the curb in two days, or brush in July when the next bagged week is months away: that is what a private spring or fall cleanup is for, with the debris hauled to the right place. Prices are on the lawn care cost page.