Madison cancels 2026 citywide cleanup as new disposal site remains under permitting appeal

The Madison City Commission voted to cancel the 2026 citywide cleanup after staff said the city currently lacks an approved restricted-use disposal site.

Jameson explained the prior site closed in fall 2024; the city purchased land for a replacement and applied for permitting in fall 2023, but that permit is under appeal to the Board of Minerals and the Environment. Without an approved site, staff outlined two primary options: cancel the event or haul deposited materials to the Brookings landfill, which staff estimated would roughly double the usual cost and substantially increase staff hauling time. Staff estimated a five-year average of just under 100 truck loads and said hauling to Brookings could require about 4.4 weeks of one full-time equivalent (FTE) just for hauling.

Commissioners discussed alternatives including a voucher program that would let residents haul items to regional landfills and the possibility of contracting with private junk-removal firms. Staff and commissioners raised enforcement and fraud concerns with vouchers, noting it can be difficult to ensure vouchers are used only by city residents. Staff recommended canceling the event for 2026 and returning to the commission to reschedule once a permitted site is available; the commission approved the cancellation by voice vote and asked staff to explore mitigation options for residents who need disposal help.