Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kalamazoo Charter Township
Trash Day
Weekly collection runs Monday through Friday depending on your street and route.
Recycling
Every other week on your designated collection day.
Yard Waste
Weekly seasonal collection (April through November) for enrolled subscribers, alongside seasonal township brush and leaf pickups.
Set Out Time
Place carts curbside the evening before your scheduled collection day.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and seasonal yard waste services are provided through Republic Services and billed directly to residents on a quarterly basis.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Arranging Your Household Garbage Collection
In Kalamazoo Charter Township, standard household garbage collection is not a municipally funded service. Instead, residents operate under an open-market system, meaning homeowners are responsible for contracting their own trash removal with a privately licensed hauler. Popular local providers include Best Way Disposal, Republic Services, and Waste Management. Because different companies service the area, your exact pickup day, container size limits, and monthly rates will depend entirely on the specific provider you choose to hire. It is highly recommended to compare pricing and select a hauler that matches your household's waste generation habits.
The Township-Wide Curbside Recycling Program
While trash is private, Kalamazoo Charter Township takes pride in offering a universal curbside recycling program for all single-family homes and residential complexes up to four units. This service is funded through a special winter tax assessment and is currently contracted through Best Way Disposal. Every eligible household is provided with a large 96-gallon rolling cart with a yellow lid. Recycling is collected every other week. To keep the waste stream clean, residents must only include loose, unbagged recyclables such as flattened cardboard, mixed paper, metal cans, and plastics labeled #1 through #7.
Recycling Cart Placement Rules
To guarantee your recycling is picked up on your scheduled alternate week, carts must be wheeled to the curb no later than 6:00 AM on collection day. The automated trucks require clear access to the carts. Position your bin with the lid opening facing the street, keeping it at least three feet away from mailboxes, utility poles, parked vehicles, and your private trash cans. Once emptied, township ordinances require that bins be removed from the public right-of-way by the end of the day.
Seasonal Brush and Branch Pickup
Keeping your yard tidy is easier with the township's scheduled brush collection program. Held during specific weeks in the spring and fall, the Department of Public Works utilizes heavy equipment to chip and remove yard debris. Brush must be neatly stacked at the edge of the roadway with the cut ends pointing toward the street. Piles containing root balls, dirt, building lumber, or branches larger than six inches in diameter will be tagged and left behind, as they can severely damage the chipping machinery.
Fall Leaf Vacuuming Service
When autumn arrives, Kalamazoo Charter Township provides a comprehensive leaf vacuuming service to keep storm drains clear and streets safe. Residents should rake loose leaves into elongated piles directly behind the curb or road edge. Bagged leaves are not accepted during this specialized municipal pickup. It is critical to ensure that no rocks, bricks, or heavy sticks are hidden within the leaf piles, as these objects pose a severe safety hazard to the vacuum operators and can cause extensive damage to the municipal equipment.
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
Does the township pay for my weekly garbage pickup?
No. Kalamazoo Charter Township residents must independently hire a private waste management company, such as Best Way Disposal or Republic Services, for their standard household trash collection.
How often is my recycling collected?
Township-provided recycling is collected every other week. You can view the alternating route map and calendar on the official township website to determine your specific day.
Can I put brush and branches out at the curb at any time?
No. Brush is only collected during designated, pre-scheduled weeks in the spring and fall. Brush left out outside of these specific dates will not be collected and may result in a code violation.