Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Lansing
Trash Day
Collection runs Monday through Thursday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Bi-weekly on your scheduled collection day (assigned to either the Blue or Green collection week).
Yard Waste
Collected seasonally on your scheduled pickup day from mid-April through late November (weekly during spring/fall peaks and bi-weekly during summer).
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (may be set out after 4:00 PM the evening before).
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside recycling and seasonal yard waste collection are funded through an annual fee assessed on your property taxes, while trash collection is an optional service billed quarterly through the city's CART program or contracted privately.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, In Person
Blue Bin (Trash)
Trash must be securely bagged before being placed in the blue cart. Carts cannot be placed at the curb before 4:00 PM the day preceding collection and must be out by 7:00 AM on your service day. They must be removed from the curb by 7:00 AM the following morning.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
- ✓Food wrappers
- ✓Textiles and heavily soiled items
Green Bin (Recycling)
Place recyclables loosely in the green cart; do not use plastic garbage bags. Ensure items are empty and reasonably clean. The automated trucks require the cart lid to be completely closed.
Accepted Items
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Mixed paper, newspaper, and magazines
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
- ✓Metal, aluminum, and tin cans
- ✓Clean glass bottles and jars
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic shopping bags and film
- ✕Styrofoam (polystyrene)
- ✕Food waste and liquids
- ✕Compact fluorescent or LED lightbulbs
- ✕Tanglers like cords and hoses
Yard Waste Bin
Place yard waste in biodegradable paper yard bags (under 30 lbs) or tie branches into secure bundles using string or twine (no wire). Never place yard waste in plastic bags or inside your city-issued trash/recycling carts.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches (under 2 inches thick and 4 feet long)
- ✓Tree and brush trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Scheduled pickups only (Thursdays)
Placement
After paying the invoice online, place the scheduled items at the curb by 7:00 AM on your assigned Thursday. Do not block sidewalks or fire hydrants.
Accepted
- ✓ Couches and chairs
- ✓ Mattresses and box springs
- ✓ Large household furniture
- ✓ Household appliances (stoves, washers)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste and wet paint
- ✕ Construction and demolition debris
- ✕ Automotive parts and tires
- ✕ Yard waste in plastic bags
The cost is $33 for the first item and $16.50 for each additional item on the same trip. Income-qualifying households can request one free bulk pickup per year.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
When a recognized holiday falls on a weekday, CART trash, recycling, and yard waste collections are delayed by one day for the remainder of that week. Friday routes will be collected on Saturday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the standard holiday delay schedule during the active collection season.
Residents can stay updated on exact holiday shifts by checking the quarterly Lansing Living Greensheet or signing up for CART SMS alerts.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring
April - JuneCurbside yard waste collection typically begins in mid-April. Due to high volumes of spring cleanup debris, crews may run slightly behind schedule during the first month. Leave your paper bags at the curb if they are not picked up immediately.
Summer
June - SeptemberStarting in mid-June, yard waste collection shifts from a weekly schedule to a bi-weekly schedule. During these hotter, drier months, your yard waste will be collected on the same week that your green recycling cart is serviced.
Winter
December - MarchYard waste collection ceases in December once the final autumn leaves drop. During winter weather events, do not place your blue or green carts behind snowbanks. Place them flush with the driveway so the truck's mechanical arm can easily reach them.
Local Tips & Community Info
CART Refuse Services and Container Pricing
Lansing utilizes the Capital Area Recycling and Trash (CART) program for residential refuse. Unlike a flat-rate tax system, the City of Lansing allows homeowners to customize their service level and billing. Residents are billed quarterly and can choose from various cart sizes, ranging from a 32-gallon weekly setup to a massive 95-gallon bin for larger households. This tiered subscription ensures you only pay for the capacity you truly need. All trash must fit securely inside the container, as overstuffed bins with raised lids will incur immediate overage fees.
The Importance of 6:00 A.M. Curbside Placement
Because route schedules can fluctuate due to weather or traffic, it is mandatory to place your CART bins at the street edge no later than 6:00 a.m. on your assigned pickup day. Ensure your containers are positioned away from parked vehicles and mailboxes to allow clearance for automated lifting trucks. Bagging your regular garbage helps keep the cart interior clean and ensures all debris is retrieved, though recyclable materials should always remain loose in their separate bin.
Seasonal Yard Debris Guidelines
When spring arrives, Lansing shifts into its seasonal yard waste protocol. Running from April through December, the city picks up organic debris like leaves and grass clippings. Depending on the month, yard waste collections may alternate to a bi-weekly rotation during the slower mid-summer weeks before returning to a weekly cadence for autumn leaf drops. Funding for this program is conveniently covered through a flat annual assessment on winter property taxes.
How to Manage Large Bulk Waste
Disposing of bulky furniture, old mattresses, or heavy appliances requires a separate arrangement since they cannot be thrown into standard carts. Lansing handles oversized refuse through special request pickups, which must be coordinated in advance. Hazardous materials such as wet paint, fluorescent bulbs, and car batteries are strictly prohibited from curbside pickup and must be driven to a designated household hazardous waste facility.
Customer Assistance and Equipment Exchange
For any issues with missed stops, swapping cart sizes, or requesting specialized bulk removal, the CART customer service office is highly responsive. You can reach the Lansing Public Service Department by calling (517) 483-4400. Be mindful that exchanging a bin size more than once per year triggers a mandatory $35 administration fee.
Drop-off Facilities
CART Recycling Drop-off Center (Emterra MRF)
1516 E. Kilgore Rd, Lansing, MI (Check website for specific entrance)
Materials Accepted
Hammond Farms (Dimondale Location)
3377 E. Lansing Rd, Dimondale, MI 48821
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
What time should I put my trash cart out in Lansing?
You must place your CART containers at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on your designated service day [1.1.1]. Lids must be completely closed to avoid overage fees.
How is yard waste collection handled?
Yard waste is collected seasonally from April to December. Depending on the volume of seasonal debris, the schedule may switch between weekly and bi-weekly rotations.
How can I change my garbage bin size?
You can request a different cart size by calling the CART office at (517) 483-4400. Homeowners are permitted one free cart exchange per year; subsequent swaps cost $35.