Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Burton
Trash Day
Monday through Friday, depending on your street route across the city.
Recycling
Weekly on the same day as trash collection.
Yard Waste
Weekly on your regular trash day from the first full week in April through the last full week in November.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
City utility bills cover municipal water and sewer services, while curbside trash collection is managed under the city contract. Burton households are also entitled to one free dump permit per month at City Hall.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Mail, In-Person
Pro Tip / Discount
Payment assistance is available for eligible low-income residents through the Genesee County Community Action Resource Department (GCCARD) Local Water Utility Affordability program.
Dark green, black, or heavy-duty trash bags Bin (Trash)
Trash must be bagged and placed in securely covered containers not exceeding 50 pounds, or placed in heavy-duty plastic bags tied securely at the curb by 7:00 AM on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Wrappers and packaging
Blue cart or bin with recycling decal Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be rinsed clean of food residue and placed loose in the blue recycling bin. Do not bag your recyclables.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean cardboard and paperboard
- ✓Office paper and newspapers
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs (#1, #2, #5)
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Clear and colored glass bottles
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, wires)
- ✕Greasy pizza boxes
- ✕Electronics
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in 30-gallon brown paper yard waste bags or rigid 32-gallon containers clearly marked with an 'X' or 'Yard Waste' decal. Branches must be tied in bundles no longer than 4 feet.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches (under 2 inches in diameter)
- ✓Garden prunings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One large item per week
Placement
Place the bulk item at least 3 feet away from your regular trash and recycling carts to allow easy access for the collection trucks.
Accepted
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Wooden furniture
- ✓ Non-Freon appliances
Not Accepted
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Hazardous waste (paint, oil)
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Refrigerators containing Freon (unless properly tagged)
Included in standard residential solid waste fees; no extra sticker or fee is required for the one weekly allotted item.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, trash and recycling collection will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. Friday collections will take place on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the exact same holiday delay schedule as trash and recycling during its active collection season.
If the holiday falls on a weekend, your standard weekday collection schedule will not be interrupted.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Winter
December to MarchHeavy Lake Effect snow and ice storms can occasionally delay collection schedules. Ensure bins are not buried in snowbanks or placed in the direct path of city snowplows.
Autumn
October to NovemberPeak leaf drop occurs in late fall. Residents should bag leaves in biodegradable kraft bags. Do not rake leaves directly into the street, as this clogs Burton's storm drains.
Spring
AprilYard waste collection resumes typically in the first week of April. It is the perfect time for spring cleaning and clearing out winter yard debris.
Local Tips & Community Info
Emterra Environmental Curbside Collection
The City of Burton has secured Emterra Environmental as the official residential waste and recycling hauler for the community. Because trash pickup days vary depending on what side of the city you live on—for instance, areas north of Bristol Road often fall on different days than other neighborhoods—residents must confirm their specific schedule with Emterra. To ensure your weekly refuse is never skipped, it is crucial to pull your designated garbage and recycling carts down to the street curb before 7:00 a.m. on your assigned morning. Drivers occasionally work late into the evening, so if your bin is not emptied right away, leave it out until the route is complete.
Seasonal Trash Collection (Yard Waste)
Previously known as the Green Waste Collection, Burton's yard waste program is officially titled 'Seasonal Trash Collection'. This highly utilized service runs continuously from the first full week of April through the very last week of November. Homeowners must place all grass clippings, dead leaves, and garden debris into approved biodegradable brown paper bags. Plastic bags are absolutely prohibited for yard waste and will be rejected by the drivers. If you have small brush or tree branches, they must be securely tied into manageable bundles that meet the size and weight restrictions of the hauler.
Spring Cleanup and Proper Bulk Disposal
Burton is well-known for its annual Spring Cleanup event, typically scheduled in early to mid-May, allowing homeowners to leave out a large accumulation of unwanted junk. During the rest of the year, standard bulk waste disposal requires a bit more coordination. If you need to throw out a mattress, an old recliner, or a broken washing machine, you should contact Emterra Environmental ahead of time to confirm a special pickup. Please note that items weighing more than 150 pounds, as well as hazardous materials like liquid paint and automobile tires, are strictly forbidden and will be left at the curb.
Navigating Single-Stream Recycling
A strong commitment to recycling is essential for reducing the environmental footprint of the Burton community. Emterra typically collects recyclables on the very same day as your standard garbage. You can combine all acceptable materials—such as flattened cardboard boxes, paper products, aluminum cans, and rinsed plastic containers—into your single-stream recycling cart. It is vital that you never place plastic grocery bags or food-soiled items like greasy pizza boxes into the recycling stream, as these materials can ruin entire batches of otherwise good recyclables.
Schedule Adjustments for Major Holidays
When a recognized national holiday takes place on a regular weekday, Emterra Environmental adjusts its routing schedule to give its hardworking crews the day off. In these instances, all subsequent garbage and recycling collections for the remainder of that week are pushed back by exactly one day. For example, if Memorial Day lands on a Monday, Monday's pickups shift to Tuesday, and Friday's regular pickups will be handled on Saturday. Regular Monday-to-Friday schedules resume the following week.
Drop-off Facilities
Genesee County Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events
Various locations across Genesee County (Check County schedule)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When does yard waste pickup begin and end in Burton?
Burton's Seasonal Trash Collection, which handles yard waste, begins the first full week of April and concludes during the last week of November.
Who is the designated trash service provider for the City of Burton?
Emterra Environmental is the official contracted waste and recycling hauler for residential neighborhoods within the City of Burton.
How do I dispose of old paint and scrap tires?
Liquid paint and automobile tires are not accepted during standard weekly curbside collections or the annual Spring Cleanup. Residents must transport these hazardous materials to a specialized Genesee County drop-off event.