Madison Streets Division closed all waste drop-off sites July 17 | The Locally Times
Hazardous air quality from wildfires forced the city to suspend all waste drop-off operations effective 11:00 a.m. on July 17.
The City of Madison Streets Division closed all waste drop-off sites at 11:00 a.m. on July 17 due to hazardous air quality. This action followed a full-day closure of all sites on July 16. The department cited the need to protect staff from wildfire smoke as the primary reason for the service interruption. ## Operational Status The Streets Division attempted to maintain limited service on the morning of July 17. According to an 8:06 a.m. notice on the city news portal, sites opened for normal hours but operated under a self-service model. The department prohibited staff from providing unloading assistance to residents during this period. By 9:21 a.m., the department issued a follow-up notice announcing the total closure of all sites effective at 11:00 a.m. due to deteriorating air quality. ## Service Availability The city has not established a specific Air Quality Index threshold that triggers mandatory site closures. Instead, the department monitors conditions throughout the day to determine if sites remain safe for employees. The city has not released a timeline for when full, staffed operations will resume. Records do not specify if other municipal services, such as curbside collection, face similar interruptions. ## Resident Access Residents must verify site status via the Streets Division website or the city email notification list before traveling to a facility. The city lists contact numbers for the East Office at 608-246-4532 and the West Office at 608-266-4681, but records do not specify if these administrative offices remain open for inquiries during the site closures. The department has not provided a plan for managing waste backlogs resulting from the two-day service gap. ## Key Questions **Are the drop-off sites currently open for assistance?** No. All sites closed at 11:00 a.m. on July 17, and the department stopped providing unloading assistance earlier that morning. **How can I check if the sites will be open tomorrow?** Residents should monitor the Streets Division website or subscribe to the city email notification list for service updates.