Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Kalamazoo
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.
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
City recycling, quarterly bulk trash, and seasonal brush pickups are funded by the Solid Waste Millage at no extra charge, while municipal water and sewer utilities are billed quarterly.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person, Drop Box
Pro Tip / Discount
Payment assistance and overdue bill relief are available for qualifying low-income households through the Community Action Agency of SW Michigan (call 211).
Standard Personal Cans or Approved Bags Bin (Trash)
Must be safely contained in bags or cans weighing under 50 lbs. Regular household trash collection configuration depends on specific municipal guidelines.
Accepted Items
- ✓Household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable domestic refuse
- ✓Sanitary waste
Wheeled Republic Services Recycling Cart Bin (Recycling)
Place wheeled cart curbside the evening prior to collection with handles facing your house, and retrieve it by the end of collection day. Keep recyclables loose.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Mixed paper and boxboard
- ✓Plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Metal food and beverage cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags and film wraps
- ✕Styrofoam and EPS foam packaging
- ✕Electronics and batteries
- ✕Food-contaminated containers
Yard Waste Bin
Must be packaged in compostable paper bags or approved open yard waste containers during active seasonal pickup periods.
Accepted Items
- ✓Leaves and garden vegetation
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Twigs and small branches
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Quarterly / Scheduled Special Windows
Placement
Place items neatly at the curbside according to your specific quarterly collection window instructions, ensuring all individual containers or bundles remain under 50 lbs.
Accepted
- ✓ Household furniture (couches, tables, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Bicycles and toys
- ✓ Limited building materials under 1 cubic yard (cut to 4-foot lengths)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Concrete, dirt, or heavy masonry
- ✕ Automotive engine blocks or large car parts
- ✕ Hazardous waste, oils, or liquid solvents
- ✕ Uncut tires or tires on rims
Standard quarterly neighborhood bulk pickups and select designated Free Bulk Trash Drop-Off Days at Gembrit Circle incur no extra fee for city residents.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When an official holiday falls on or before a weekday collection day, service for that day and the remainder of the week is generally delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
Seasonal yard waste and recycling schedules adjust correspondingly alongside holiday weeks matching Republic Services' master calendar.
If a major holiday falls on a weekend, collection schedules for Monday through Friday typically remain entirely unaffected.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Autumn
October - DecemberThe city conducts heavy neighborhood leaf collection rounds. Remember to keep leaves out of gutters and storm streets to avoid citations and drainage blockages.
Spring and Summer
April - SeptemberActive yard waste and food scrap collection pilot schedules ramp up, giving households optimal channels for organic waste diversion during peak growing seasons.
Winter
January - MarchSnow accumulation can obstruct cart placement. Always position carts clear of snowbanks and a few feet away from mailboxes or vehicles to ensure automated truck arms can reach them.
Local Tips & Community Info
Private Weekly Garbage Collection in Kalamazoo
Unlike many municipalities that handle all sanitation under a single city contract, regular weekly garbage pickup in Kalamazoo is managed through a privatized system. Homeowners are responsible for selecting and contracting directly with a licensed private waste hauler, such as Waste Management (WM), Republic Services, or Best Way Disposal. Your specific collection day and standard bin rules will depend entirely on the vendor you choose. However, local city ordinances require that all household refuse be properly contained within lidded carts to prevent litter from blowing into the streets and to keep local wildlife away from residential properties.
City-Sponsored Bi-Weekly Recycling Program
While regular trash is privatized, the City of Kalamazoo steps in to provide comprehensive bi-weekly recycling services at no additional out-of-pocket cost to residents. Each eligible household can request a large 96-gallon rolling recycling cart directly from the Public Services Department. These containers are serviced every other week according to a localized zone map. You must have your cart at the edge of the street by 6:00 AM on your assigned morning, but no earlier than the day before your pickup. To avoid municipal nuisance violations, be sure to roll the emptied cart back to your house by 11:00 PM on your collection day.
The Quarterly Bulk Trash Cleanup Initiative
One of the most unique benefits for Kalamazoo residents is the city's quarterly bulk trash program. Four times a year—specifically in March, June, September, and December—city crews will come through neighborhoods to collect oversized items that cannot fit into standard bins. Residents can set out up to 7.5 cubic yards of material, which is roughly the size of a standard pickup truck bed. The timing rules are strictly enforced: you may begin placing approved large items, such as furniture and mattresses, at the curb starting at 7:00 AM the day before your scheduled pickup, and everything must be fully out by 6:00 AM on the actual collection day.
Monthly Brush and Yard Waste Logistics
Keeping properties manicured during the warmer months is supported by the city's monthly brush and yard waste route, which operates continuously from April through October. During this window, crews will pick up twigs, sticks, and plant trimmings once a month based on your specific address. All organic debris must be placed in biodegradable paper compost bags, packed into cardboard boxes, or securely bundled using natural twine. Loose piles of brush, grass clippings, and heavy soil will be rejected and left at the curb.
Dedicated Fall Leaf Collection Season
As autumn peaks, Kalamazoo transitions from standard bundled yard waste to a specialized loose leaf collection program. Running from early November through mid-December, this service allows homeowners to rake fallen leaves directly onto their curb lawn. There is no need to bag these leaves or call ahead to schedule a truck. The city utilizes heavy machinery to clear the loose piles. Just ensure that your leaf piles do not block storm drains, spill into the active roadway, or obstruct pedestrian sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
Drop-off Facilities
Republic Services Transfer Station
3432 Gembrit Circle, Kalamazoo, MI 49001
Materials Accepted
Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center
Kalamazoo County facility (Contact 269-383-8742 for location and scheduling)
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline for reporting a missed bulk trash or recycling pickup?
If your recycling cart or quarterly bulk trash was out on time but bypassed by the crews, you must report the missed collection to the city by calling 311 or submitting an online form within 48 hours of your scheduled day.
Are there any items I absolutely cannot include in the quarterly bulk pickup?
Yes, city crews will strictly reject construction and demolition materials, concrete, tires, rocks, hazardous liquids like wet paint, yard waste, and any loose debris hidden inside opaque black garbage bags.
What should I do if my recycling cart goes missing or gets damaged?
If your 96-gallon city recycling cart is damaged by a snowplow, broken, or stolen, you can easily request a free replacement by dialing 311, calling (269) 337-8000, or filling out the cart request form on the municipal website.