Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kalamazoo Charter Township
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.
Typically Blue or Green Republic Services Cart Bin (Trash)
Trash must fit inside the 65-gallon or 95-gallon cart. The cart should be placed at the curb the night before collection with the handles facing the house. Carts must be retrieved by the end of the collection day.
Accepted Items
- ✓Everyday household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Standard packaging materials
Typically Blue or Green Cart with a Light Blue Lid Bin (Recycling)
All recyclables must be empty, clean, and dry. Do not place recyclables inside plastic bags. If recycling a hardcover book, the hard cover must be physically ripped off and thrown in the trash first.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics #1 - #7
- ✓Glass jars and bottles (colored and clear)
- ✓Corrugated cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Mixed office paper, file folders, and telephone books
- ✓Tin, steel, and aluminum cans
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Hazardous waste or building materials
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Rocks or heavy iron
- ✕Household garbage
Yard Waste Bin
Yard waste can be disposed of via a subscribed 95-gallon cart (April-Nov) or in paper yard bags during the free May, Nov, and Dec pickups. Brush must be securely tied in bundles. Absolutely no plastic bags.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Brush and twigs
- ✓Grass clippings (in subscribed carts)
- ✓Branches (under 2 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length)
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Three times a year (typically April, July, and October)
Placement
Set items out on your regular trash day during the scheduled bulk week. Items must be non-hazardous, and any small pieces must be boxed or placed in clear bags under 50 pounds.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture, bicycles, and toys
- ✓ Appliances and home fixtures (liftable by two people)
- ✓ Wrapped mattresses
- ✓ Limited building materials (doors, fencing cut to 4-foot lengths; max 1 cubic yard)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Large plastic drums and concrete
- ✕ Hazardous liquids, wet paints, and varnishes
- ✕ Tires on rims (tires only accepted if cut into flat pieces)
- ✕ Unwrapped mattresses
The 3.5 cubic yard bulk service is included in your taxes/fees. To dispose of items outside of these three weeks, residents can take bagged waste to local drop-off sites like the Republic Services Transfer Station on Gembrit Circle for a modest fee.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If your scheduled pickup day falls on or after a major holiday during the workweek, your service will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week (e.g., Friday collections move to Saturday).
Yard Waste Exception
Subscribed yard waste cart collections are suspended during the winter months, so winter holiday delays only apply to standard refuse and recycling routes.
Check the official Republic Services or Kalamazoo Township online calendar to verify specific neighborhood dates.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Use Clear Bags for Small Bulk Items
If you are setting out smaller items during the township's tri-annual bulk pickup weeks, they cannot go in black or colored trash bags. You must use clear, heavy-duty plastic bags so Republic Services drivers can visually confirm the contents are not hazardous.
Tear Off Hardcover Book Bindings
While soft-cover books and telephone directories can be tossed directly into your recycling cart, hardcover books require a quick modification. You must rip the hard covers off and throw them in the trash before recycling the interior paper pages.
Mandatory Mattress Wrapping
For the health and safety of sanitation workers, any mattress placed at the curb during bulk collection MUST be completely sealed in plastic. If the mattress is infested with bed bugs, it must still be wrapped, and you must clearly write 'Bed Bugs' on the plastic.
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - MayThe optional yard waste cart subscription activates in April, followed by the first free township leaf and brush pickup in May. The first major bulk trash collection week also typically occurs in April.
Autumn
October - NovemberFall brings the final bulk collection week in October and dedicated leaf/brush pickups in November. Never rake loose leaves into the street; they clog storm drains, create traffic hazards, and can result in a township fine.
Winter
December - MarchThe final seasonal leaf collection occurs in December, after which yard waste services halt until April. During winter storms, ensure carts are not buried behind snowbanks so automated truck arms can securely grab them.
About Kalamazoo Charter Township Waste Management
Republic Services Partnership in Kalamazoo Township
The Charter Township of Kalamazoo has established a single-hauler municipal contract with Republic Services to handle all residential garbage, recycling, and yard waste. This consolidated approach limits heavy truck traffic on local roads, reducing wear and tear while decreasing neighborhood noise. Residents are provided with 65-gallon or 95-gallon refuse carts that are billed quarterly, and unique flexibility is offered to neighbors who generate minimal waste—they are officially permitted to share a single garbage cart.
Bi-Weekly Curbside Recycling Guidelines
Recycling collection across the township occurs every other week. Residents must place their provided wheeled carts at the curb the evening before their scheduled day, making sure the handles face the house for automated truck arms. The township allows a wide variety of materials, including plastics #1 through #7, glass jars, and paper products. However, they strictly prohibit the bagging of recyclables—all items must remain loose, clean, and dry within the cart to prevent sorting facility contamination.
Scheduled Township Bulk Trash Collections
Unlike cities that require residents to call ahead for large item disposal, Kalamazoo Charter Township automatically schedules massive bulk collections three times a year (typically in April, July, and October). During these specific weeks, households can place up to 3.5 cubic yards of large debris at the curb. Small items must be packed into clear heavy-duty plastic bags or sturdy boxes weighing no more than 50 pounds, ensuring drivers can easily verify the contents.
Managing Seasonal Yard Waste
Kalamazoo Township handles organic waste through a two-pronged system. Homeowners who continuously generate yard debris can subscribe to an optional 95-gallon yard waste cart service running from April through November. Alternatively, the township hosts complimentary seasonal leaf and brush pickups specifically during May, November, and December. During these free events, all leaves must go into paper yard bags—not plastic—and brush must be tied tightly into manageable bundles.
Drop-off Facilities
Republic Services Transfer Station
3432 Gembrit Circle, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Materials Accepted
Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center
1301 Lamont Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49005
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if Republic Services missed my trash or recycling pickup in Kalamazoo Township?
Any missed bulk, trash, or recycling pickups must be reported to the Township before the end of the next business day. You can report a missed pickup online via the ktwp.org portal or by calling Republic Services directly at (877) 698-7274.
Can I share a trash cart with my neighbor to save money?
Yes! Kalamazoo Charter Township allows residents who do not produce much trash to officially share a single Republic Services garbage cart with a neighbor, or even take their trash to their place of business if permitted.
How do I safely dispose of old paint cans?
Latex paint can be placed in your bulk trash ONLY if the paint is completely dried up. You can dry it out by adding sawdust or kitty litter, or by leaving the lid off for a few days. Non-latex paints and varnishes must go to the Kalamazoo County HHW Center.
Where can I safely dispose of expired prescription medications?
Unused or expired medication should never be flushed or thrown in the standard trash. Kalamazoo Township residents can utilize the REDMED drop box located in the entrance lobby of the Kalamazoo Township Police Station on Mt. Olivet.