Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Bay City
Michigan residential pickups occur weekly. Please check your local township or city map for your exact neighborhood collection day.
State Mandate
Keep yard clippings out of landfills. Return deposit bottles separately.
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
!Contamination Tips
Cardboard Is Not a Bulk Item
Do not set extra cardboard outside your recycling cart thinking it counts as your weekly bulk item. It will not be collected. If you have excess cardboard, break it down to fit in the cart or schedule an appointment to take it to the Drop-Off Center.
Keep Plastic Bags Out of the Recycling
All recyclables must be placed loosely into your 96-gallon cart. Never bag your recycling in plastic grocery bags or garbage bags, as these tangle the sorting machinery at the materials recovery facility.
Retire Your Personal Trash Cans
The city's automated garbage trucks require the official 96-gallon carts. Using an unapproved personal trash can for household garbage will result in the bin being left unemptied.
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.
About Bay City Waste Management
Bay City's Longstanding In-House Sanitation Services
Unlike many municipalities that contract out their waste management, the City of Bay City has proudly operated its own in-house curbside solid waste services since the early 1950s. Today, the Bay City Sanitation Department handles nearly 15,000 weekly stops for residents and businesses. Their modern fleet utilizes automated collection, requiring residents to use city-issued 96-gallon rolling carts for both household refuse and single-stream recycling.
Strict Cart Requirements and Overflow Policies
Bay City enforces strict guidelines to maintain clean neighborhoods and avoid loose debris. All household garbage must be bagged and fit completely inside the city-provided 96-gallon trash cart with the lid closed. While the automated trucks cannot lift unapproved personal cans, the city does offer a unique weekly allowance: residents may place exactly ONE bulk item or two extra 13-gallon kitchen bags next to their cart on collection day. Excessive overflow or move-out piles are not collected automatically and are subject to steep nuisance fines.
The Bay City Recycles Drop-Off Center
For residents with more waste than the weekly limits allow, the Bay City Recycles Drop-Off Center at 2900 North Water Street is an excellent resource. This facility operates by appointment—easily scheduled through the city's online ReDirectory tool—and accepts everything from excess cardboard and general refuse to tires and mattresses. Depending on the material, a nominal disposal fee may apply to help cover processing costs.
Navigating the Two-Tiered Brush Collection Program
Bay City offers a very specific, two-tiered brush collection program. In April and November, city crews perform a scheduled, no-fee, city-wide sweep to collect loose brush placed at the curb. However, between May and October, this transforms into a fee-based service. During the summer months, you must schedule an appointment online and pay a minimum fee of $30 for a 15-minute collection block.
Seasonal Yard Waste Operations
Yard waste collection runs concurrently with your regular trash schedule but is strictly seasonal. From April 1st through November 30th, residents can dispose of grass clippings, leaves, and small twigs by placing them in Kraft paper yard bags or standard 32-gallon containers equipped with handles. To ensure crews pick them up, reusable containers must be clearly labeled "Yard Waste Only" and weigh no more than 40 pounds.
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
Can I use a personal trash can if my city cart is full?
No. Per Bay City ordinance, all standard household trash must be contained within the official 96-gallon city cart. Unapproved personal containers will not be emptied by the automated trucks. However, you are permitted to set out two 13-gallon kitchen bags as overflow each week.
What should I do with extra cardboard from moving or deliveries?
Cardboard is not considered a bulk item and will not be collected if left outside your cart. You must break it down to fit inside the recycling cart. If you have too much, you can schedule an appointment to take it to the Bay City Recycles Drop-Off Center.
How does the loose brush collection work?
Bay City offers a no-fee brush sweep twice a year, in April and November. During the rest of the season (May through October), brush collection requires you to schedule a 'Loose Brush Appointment' online and comes with a fee starting at $30.
When are my trash and recycling carts supposed to be at the curb?
Carts should be placed at the curb no earlier than 4:00 p.m. on the day before your scheduled pickup, and they must be out no later than 7:00 a.m. on collection day. Empty containers must be removed from the curb by 8:00 a.m. the following day.