Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Grand Haven
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your neighborhood route; contact Republic Services to confirm your street's pickup day.
Recycling
Collected on the same day as regular trash pickup according to your assigned route schedule.
Yard Waste
Curbside collection runs from April 1 through December 31 on your normal service day; seasonal Saturday drop-offs are also held at Harbor Island.
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Water and sewer utilities are billed monthly through the City Treasurer's Office, while curbside trash and recycling services are arranged and serviced through Republic Services.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), Phone, Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
Typically Blue or Green Republic Cart Bin (Trash)
All household refuse must be bagged and fit entirely within your Republic Services cart with the lid completely closed. Carts should be placed at the curb the night before or early on collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Standard packaging materials
Typically Blue Cart with Light Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
Place all recyclables loosely in the cart. Do not bag your items. Corrugated cardboard must be cut into 2'x2' pieces if taking to the drop-off center, or broken down flat for the curbside cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Cardboard and paperboard (broken down)
- ✓Plastics containers #1 through #7
- ✓Tin, steel, and aluminum cans
- ✓Clean aluminum foil
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam packaging and peanuts
- ✕Wax-coated freezer boxes
- ✕Used paper plates and napkins
Yard Waste Bin
Curbside collected April 1 - Dec 31 in paper bags or marked containers. Drop-off at Harbor Island requires biological twine for bundles. Plastic bags must be emptied and removed from the drop-off site.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Garden debris
- ✓Brush (bundled under 4 feet, branches max 2.5 inches diameter)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment Only
Placement
Place your bulk items at the curb only after you have confirmed a pickup date with Republic Services, to avoid receiving a municipal ordinance violation for unscreened rubbish.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large general junk
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances containing Freon (refrigerators, AC units)
- ✕ Hazardous waste and medical waste
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Concrete, shingles, and heavy construction debris
Special bulk pickups arranged through Republic Services may incur an additional fee based on the size and weight of the items being removed.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If one of these designated holidays falls on a weekday on or before your normal collection day, your trash and recycling service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Curbside yard waste service follows the same holiday delay schedule during its active season (April 1 to December 31).
If a holiday falls on a weekend, your standard weekday collection schedule will not be delayed.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe Spring Harbor Island Yard Waste Drop-Off typically runs every Saturday from early April through early May. Ensure you are an active Republic Services customer to utilize this site.
Autumn
October - NovemberAs the leaves fall, the city reactivates the Harbor Island drop-off location on Saturdays. Keep in mind that curbside yard waste pickup also runs continuously through December 31.
Winter
January - MarchCurbside yard waste collection is suspended during the first three months of the year. During heavy lake-effect snows, ensure your garbage carts are placed on a shoveled approach and not buried in snowbanks.
Local Tips & Community Info
Household Garbage Collection via Republic Services
Grand Haven is renowned for its stunning Lake Michigan shoreline, and keeping the community clean is a shared responsibility. The City of Grand Haven contracts with Republic Services to handle all residential curbside refuse collection. For the vast majority of neighborhoods within the city limits, standard household garbage is collected once a week on Tuesdays. To guarantee your bins are emptied, all loose trash should be neatly bagged and contained entirely within the provided Republic Services cart to prevent litter from blowing into the streets or waterways.
Cart Placement and Weekly Timing
To keep the morning collection routes running on schedule, residents are required to have their carts placed at the street by 6:00 a.m. on Tuesday. However, per city ordinances, you should not push your bins to the curb before 8:00 p.m. on the evening prior to your collection day. Carts should be placed with the wheels facing away from the street, and there must be adequate clearance around the bin so the automated truck arm can operate without hitting mailboxes, trees, or parked vehicles.
Navigating the Bi-Weekly Recycling Program
Unlike standard trash collection, the curbside recycling program in Grand Haven operates on a bi-weekly schedule. The city is divided into two alternating geographic zones known as Section A and Section B. You will need to check your specific zone calendar to know which Tuesday is your designated recycling day. All accepted recyclables, including glass jars, metal cans, cardboard, and plastics, must be placed loosely in the recycling cart without being bundled in plastic bags, as bags severely disrupt the single-stream sorting facility.
Dealing with Bulky Trash and Appliances
Getting rid of a broken chair or an old mattress is convenient under the current municipal contract. Residents are permitted to place exactly one large bulk item at the curb every other week, coinciding with their scheduled recycling day. If you need to dispose of a large item during a non-bulk week, or if you have multiple heavy items to get rid of, you can visit Grand Haven City Hall to purchase a special $10 bulk disposal tag to ensure the hauler picks it up.
Seasonal Yard Waste Regulations
During the warmer months, yard waste collection is offered to help residents maintain their properties and keep storm drains clear of debris. This seasonal service typically begins the first full week of April and concludes at the end of November. Acceptable organic materials like grass clippings, leaves, and small brush must be placed in compostable kraft paper bags or in rigid cans clearly marked for yard waste. Plastic shopping bags or standard garbage bags are strictly prohibited for compost disposal and will be left behind.
Holiday Adjustments and Customer Support
Republic Services observes major national holidays, such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. If a holiday falls on a Monday or Tuesday, your regular Tuesday collection will be delayed by one day, shifting to Wednesday. Normal schedules resume the following week. If you experience a missed pickup, have a question about your route, or need to request a replacement for a damaged cart, you should contact Republic Services directly to arrange a recovery truck.
Drop-off Facilities
Resource Recovery Service Center - Grand Haven
16850 Comstock Ave, Grand Haven, MI 49417
Materials Accepted
Harbor Island Yard Waste Drop-Off (Seasonal)
Boat Launch Overflow Lot (North End of Harbor Island), Grand Haven, MI
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the regular trash collection day in Grand Haven?
For the majority of the city, standard curbside garbage collection occurs every week on Tuesdays. Carts must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m.
How often is recycling picked up at my house?
Recycling is collected on a bi-weekly basis, meaning every other Tuesday, depending on whether your home falls into the Section A or Section B schedule.
How do I dispose of a large bulk item like a mattress?
Residents can place one bulk item out on their designated recycling week. For additional items, you must purchase a $10 disposal tag directly from City Hall.