Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bay City
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly, Monday through Friday, according to your neighborhood collection route.
Recycling
Bi-weekly (every other week) on your designated trash collection day, alternating on Red and Yellow week schedules.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash collection day from April 1 through November 30. Brush collection is offered citywide in April and November, or by appointment May through October.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (and no earlier than 4:00 PM the day before).
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside solid waste and recycling fees are billed together with your monthly Bay City municipal utility services (water, sewer, and electric).
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (Bank Draft), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
City-issued 96-gallon cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged. Lids must shut completely. Place carts at the curb between 4:00 p.m. the day before and 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Handles must face the house. Keep carts 3 feet away from obstacles.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Standard refuse
City-issued 96-gallon cart Bin (Recycling)
Do not bag recyclables. Old 18-gallon bins are no longer serviced; all recycling must be in the 96-gallon city cart. Collection happens bi-weekly.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Plastic bottles and containers
- ✓Steel and aluminum cans
- ✓Newspaper and junk mail
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Hazardous materials
Yard Waste Bin
Use Kraft paper yard bags or 32-gallon or smaller containers marked 'Yard Waste Only'. Must not weigh more than 40 lbs. Collected from April 1 to November 30.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and prunings
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on your regular trash day
Placement
Place your single item at the curb next to your trash cart by 7:00 a.m. on collection day.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Box springs
- ✓ Rolled and tied carpet (cut into 3-foot sections, max 8-inch diameter, limit 2 rolls)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Large appliances (white goods)
- ✕ Building and contractor debris
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Excess cardboard
One item is free. Setting out excessive bulk items or "move-out" piles will result in a solid waste nuisance fee assessed to the property owner.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an observed holiday occurs on a weekday, pickup for the remaining days of that week will be one day late, with Friday's collection being made on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
During the active season, yard waste and recycling collection will follow the exact same holiday delay schedule as regular trash.
For holidays that are not explicitly listed (e.g., MLK Jr. Day, Veterans Day), collection will remain on its normal schedule.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring and Fall
April and NovemberThe city provides a scheduled, no-fee loose brush collection during these two months. Stack brush neatly between the curb and sidewalk with the cut ends facing the same direction.
Summer
May - OctoberDuring the summer months, curbside brush collection is a fee-based service. You must request a 'Loose Brush Appointment' via the city's online wizard and pay a minimum $30 fee.
Winter Holidays
December - JanuaryHoliday trash delays only occur on six major holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas. If a holiday falls on a weekday, services are pushed back one day, with Friday pickups shifting to Saturday.
Local Tips & Community Info
Household Refuse Regulations in Bay City
To maintain a clean and vibrant environment along the Saginaw River, Bay City provides a comprehensive curbside refuse program for its residents. Each eligible residential dwelling is equipped with a dark-colored 96-gallon trash cart. To ensure your household waste is successfully collected, this cart must be positioned at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. City ordinance requires that the container's lid be completely closed to deter wildlife and prevent windblown litter. Waste must be bagged before being placed inside the bin, and collection crews will not service any loose bags, boxes, or personal cans placed beside the official city-issued cart. When returning your bin to your property, it must be removed from the public right-of-way within 24 hours of collection.
Bi-Weekly Recycling Dynamics
Bay City promotes active community sustainability through a single-stream recycling initiative. Residents use a separate 96-gallon cart featuring a brightly colored lid, which is serviced on an alternating bi-weekly schedule. You do not have to sort your materials; simply place clean cardboard, plastic jugs, glass bottles, and tin cans loosely inside the receptacle. It is absolutely critical that you do not bag your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks. Soft plastic films are strictly prohibited because they entangle the machinery at the regional material recovery facility. If your cart contains unapproved items like garden hoses, food waste, or styrofoam, it will be tagged as contaminated and left unemptied.
Managing Oversized Household Debris
Disposing of bulky furniture or broken appliances requires following specific municipal guidelines. Bay City allows residents to place one large bulk item at the curb each week alongside their regular trash cart. This allowance covers items such as old mattresses, couches, or wooden dressers. However, for sanitary reasons, any mattress or box spring must be entirely wrapped in plastic and sealed before it is set out. For major appliances like refrigerators or freezers, the doors must be completely removed to prevent entrapment hazards, and certified technicians must extract all Freon before the sanitation trucks can legally haul the unit away to the landfill.
Seasonal Compost and Brush Directives
From the beginning of April until the final week of November, Bay City operates a dedicated yard waste collection program to keep organic material out of standard landfills. Grass clippings, pulled weeds, and fallen leaves must be stored in 30-gallon biodegradable kraft paper bags or standard 32-gallon plastic cans clearly marked with a 'Yard Waste' decal. Plastic bags are universally rejected for compost collection. Residents trimming trees can also leave small brush out for pickup, provided the branches are securely tied with twine into bundles that do not exceed four feet in length or weigh more than 50 pounds.
Sanitation Delays During Holidays
Throughout the calendar year, the regular curbside collection routing is interrupted by six major recognized holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If any of these federal holidays occurs on a weekday, all refuse, recycling, and yard waste pickups for the remainder of that calendar week are pushed forward by exactly one day. For instance, a scheduled Wednesday pickup will shift to Thursday. If the holiday happens to fall on a Saturday or Sunday, the regular Monday through Friday sanitation schedule proceeds without any alterations.
Drop-off Facilities
Bay City Recycles Drop-Off Center
2900 North Water Street, Bay City, MI 48708
Materials Accepted
Omni Source (Metal Recycling)
1414 N Madison Avenue, Bay City, MI 48708
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time do I need to put my trash cart out in Bay City?
All refuse, recycling, and yard waste containers must be placed at the edge of the curb by 7:00 a.m. on your specific scheduled collection day.
How often does the city collect recycling?
Curbside recycling is collected on a bi-weekly (every-other-week) schedule. Your recycling cart will be emptied on the same day of the week as your regular garbage during your assigned recycling week.
Am I allowed to throw away a couch with my regular trash?
Yes, Bay City residents are permitted to place one bulk item, such as a couch or piece of furniture, at the curb per week at no extra charge, provided it is set out on your regular trash day.