Garbage & Recycling

Curbside Household Garbage/Recycling Collection

The City of Columbus utilizes a vendor, Columbia County Solid Waste for weekly household trash and curbside recycling pick-up for residential properties of 4 or less units. Household solid waste can be placed on the tree border as early as dusk the night before scheduled pickup. Household solid waste must be placed in approved containers. 

Items accepted for recycling will be picked up on the same day as regular trash is picked up.

Download the City's Residential Household Garbage & Recycling Routes.

*Note - If a holiday falls on Monday, pickup will be moved to the next business day for each route. 

You can download the 2023 Garbage Collection Holiday Calendar PDF.

Yellow = Holiday, Blue = Collection

2023 Spring Clean-Up

The annual Spring Clean-Up event will take place again this year the week of May 22, 2023.  This is only available for residents of the City of Columbus that have weekly garbage/recycling service from Columbia County Solid Waste.

When:  Week of May 22, 2023, on your normal garbage/recycling day.  Each neighborhood will be picked up once during this event.  Please place your items at curbside by 6:00 am and separate them from your garbage/recycling carts.  Do not put anything in the street.

The following items CAN be picked up:                                                                                                       

• Junk Items – appliances without coolant or freon, washers, dryers, stoves/ovens, furniture, bed frames, mattresses/box springs, sofas, chairs, dressers, lamps, grills, porcelain toilets/sinks, carpet (pieces 4’ or less), small lawnmowers and snow throwers (liquids drained out), etc.  
• Metal Items – swing sets, bikes, small metal sheds with shingles and/or wood removed.  Metal will be picked up separately from the junk items.

The following items CANNOT be picked up: Appliances with coolant or freon, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, wire, ballasts, 55-gallon barrels, fuel tanks, roofing, demolition material, lumber, fences, trees, brush, leaves, lawn clippings, tires, waste oil, hazardous chemicals, paint, electronics such as computers, monitors, etc.

If you have any questions or have an excess amount of junk items, please contact Columbia County at (608) 742-6651 prior to the date of pickup, to inquire if there will be a fee.

If needing an outside vendor to place a large dumpster in the street for a remodeling/construction project, a Dumpster Permit will be needed. 

Appliance and Electronic Recycling Events

Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, from 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

Resource Solutions Corp. 608-244-2454 located at 5493 Express Circle, Madison, WI is the company that will be hosting our Electronics event this year. Since they are located in Madison, if someone does need to get rid of an item, they can always drop them off to them in Madison, and they will pay the same price as the event in Columbus! Our first event is Saturday, June 24 from 8 until noon.

City of Columbus residents are welcome to recycle their electronics and appliances at the Landscape Recycling Center, located at N3642 River Rd. Columbus, WI on the date(s)/time listed above. A variety of electronics and appliances can be recycled for free or with a small fee.

Recycle These Electronics for Free:

Recycle These Electronics for a Charge:

For your safety and ours, please:

• No batteries or bulbs.
• Wipe down all materials prior to the event.
• Stay in your vehicle at the event, we will unload.

You can download the Electronics Recycling Event Flyer

Bulk Item Drop Off & Curbside Pickup Program

The City of Columbus Department of Public Works (DPW) is offering a larger/bulk item drop off and curbside collection program in the City of Columbus, open to City residents only. Residents will need to call the DPW office at (920) 623-5908, email or stop in person at City Hall, located at 105 N. Dickason Blvd. and register their request. Payment arrangements must be made prior to drop off or pick up.

Eligible Drop Off / Collection Materials Accepted

$15 per item for drop off / $30 per item for curbside collection (pricing subject to change at the discretion of DPW staff):

• furniture (chairs, couches, mattresses, tables, desks)
• interior household shelving
• larger children’s toys/furniture
• any other items deemed acceptable at the discretion of DPW

Items NOT Eligible for Drop Off:

• electronics (computers, televisions)
• appliances (freon appliances, refrigerators, freezers, air conditioners, etc.)
• microwaves
• LP tanks
• chemicals, paint/stain-call 
• clothing
• yard waste
• everyday household trash

Metal Items Accepted at NO Charge:

• Bicycles, washers, dryers, ovens, dishwashers, water heaters, and other miscellaneous metals

Drop Off Process

Residents who have items eligible for drop off can bring them to the DPW facility at 229 East School Street where there is a 30-yard dumpster. Payment for the items is required before dropping into the dumpster. Please alert DPW personnel of your arrival by visiting the office window, and someone will review the items prior to disposal. Proof of residency is required.

NOTE: The DPW and City of Columbus reserves the right to refuse dumping or close the dumpster drop-off program for any reason.

DPW Drop Off Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Monday thru Friday.  

Bulk Item Curbside Pickup Collection

Residents who have eligible large/bulk items and are unable to bring their items to the DPW dumpster site, can request DPW collect their item at the curb. Items eligible for collection are the same as those accepted at the drop off-site. DPW will then come to the stated address and review whether the items are eligible for collection.

Curbside Collection Hours: made by appointment. 

Other Recycling Resources - Columbia County Solid Waste

The Columbia County Recycling and Waste Processing Facility, W7465 State Highway 16, Pardeeville, WI 53954, has a recycling processing facility that collects many household materials. For hours of operation, prices and payments, please call Columbia County Solid Waste directly at (608) 742-6651 or visit their website. 

If you have any questions, please call the Department of Public Works at (920) 623-5908.