Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Midland
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.
Gray (City-purchased bin) or Personal Cans/Bags Bin (Trash)
All refuse must be bagged and tied. Cans/bags must weigh under 50 lbs unless using the official 95-gallon gray City bin. Set out by 7:30 AM.
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable packaging
Black body with Green lid Bin (Recycling)
Recycling is collected monthly. Items must be placed loose in the GFL-provided cart with the handle facing your home. Allow 4 feet of clearance around the bin.
Accepted Items
- ✓Clean plastic bottles and jugs
- ✓Flattened cardboard
- ✓Metal cans
- ✓Glass bottles and jars
- ✓Mixed paper
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food residue
- ✕Tied newspapers
- ✕Yard waste
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in Kraft paper bags (max 50 lbs) or official blue City 95-gallon bins. Requires purchased stickers from May to October.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs
- ✓Garden waste
- ✓Straw
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Monthly
Placement
Place heavy items in the outlawn (the grassy area between the curb and sidewalk). Items must be under 8 feet in length.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Carpet
- ✓ Scrap metal
- ✓ Large tree branches (under 8 feet long)
- ✓ Mattresses
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous chemicals
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Dead animals
- ✕ Liquid paint
- ✕ Concrete or brick
- ✕ Vehicle batteries
The first 10 cubic yards are free. Any volume exceeding a standard truckload will result in a bill sent directly to the resident.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
Unlike most cities, Midland DPW doubles refuse and recycling runs on the day before or the day after a recognized holiday.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste follows the same adjusted collection days as standard refuse during the active season.
By running double routes, the DPW ensures the rest of the week's refuse and recycling pickups remain on their regularly scheduled days without pushing the whole city back.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose is the Law for Recycling
Never put your recyclables inside plastic garbage bags. GFL Environmental requires all approved recycling materials to be placed loose in the black and green cart to avoid jamming their sorting facility equipment.
Keep the Brush out of the Bin
When utilizing the blue yard waste bins, ensure the lid can close completely. Large brush sticking out of the top will cause the DPW automated trucks to bypass your container.
No Twine on Your Times
Do not tie your old newspapers or magazines into bundles. Twine and string tangle in the mechanical gears at the recycling center. Drop all paper loosely into your recycling cart.
Seasonal Information
Spring
AprilTake advantage of Midland's 'Spring Free' yard waste program. Starting the first Monday in April, you can set out Kraft compost bags and blue city bins without purchasing or attaching the usual required yard waste stickers.
Autumn
October to NovemberDuring the designated Fall Leaf Collection, the standard bagging rules are suspended. Residents are instructed to rake leaves directly into the street, leaving a one-foot space between the leaf pile and the curb to allow for water drainage.
Winter
December to MarchYard waste collection ceases entirely in mid-December. During snowstorms, ensure your gray trash carts are placed securely in your driveway approach—not in the street—so they do not obstruct city snowplows.
About Midland Waste Management
Navigating Midland's Dual-Hauler System
In the City of Midland, waste collection is a collaborative effort. Your weekly household refuse and yard waste are managed directly by the City's Department of Public Services (DPW). However, the curbside recycling program operates on a monthly schedule and is contracted out to GFL Environmental. To ensure your bins are emptied, always have your materials set out by 7:30 AM on collection day, but no earlier than 6:00 PM the night prior.
The Unique 'Borrow-A-Container' Program
One of the standout perks for Midland residents is the innovative Borrow-A-Container service. Four times a year, you can reserve a 4-cubic-yard dumpster for overnight use entirely free of charge. DPW will drop the dumpster on your outlawn or driveway before 3:30 PM, allowing you to easily dispose of a large amount of household refuse or brush, with collection happening early the next morning.
Monthly Heavy Item & Brush Collection
Instead of scheduling individual bulk pickups, Midland zones the city for a designated Heavy Item & Brush Collection week every month. Residents are allowed to place up to 10 cubic yards (roughly the size of two 8-foot by 4-foot piles) in the outlawn. This service covers large furniture, scrap metal, and oversized tree limbs, saving residents a trip to the landfill.
Stickers, Bins, and the 'Spring Free' Yard Waste Season
Midland's yard waste program is a pay-to-use service requiring $0.60 orange stickers on Kraft paper bags or an annual sticker for the blue 95-gallon city bins. However, residents can take advantage of the 'Spring Free' period. Throughout the entire month of April, yard waste is collected completely free of charge without requiring any stickers, making spring cleanups highly cost-effective.
Monthly Drop-Off Perks at the Midland Landfill
For waste that exceeds your weekly limit, the City of Midland Landfill on East Ashman Street offers an excellent resident benefit. Once per month, any Midland County household can dispose of up to 3 cubic yards of general refuse, yard waste, or construction debris at absolutely no charge. You just need to present a valid driver's license matching your address at the gatehouse.
Drop-off Facilities
Midland City Landfill
4311 E. Ashman St., Midland, MI 48642
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycling collected every week in Midland, MI?
No. The City of Midland provides monthly curbside recycling collection. It is serviced by GFL Environmental and will occur on your normal trash day during one specific assigned week of the month.
How does the Borrow-A-Container service work?
Midland residents can reserve a 4-cubic-yard dumpster for free up to four times a year. You can book it online or call the DPW. The container is dropped off at your home by 3:30 PM and picked up early the next business day.
Are yard waste stickers required all year?
No. Yard waste stickers are required from the first Monday in May through the first Monday in October. During April's 'Spring Free' period and late fall, stickers are not required on your Kraft bags or blue bins.
Do I have to pay to use the Midland City Landfill?
Midland County residents can drop off up to 3 cubic yards of refuse, yard waste, or construction debris at the landfill completely free of charge once per month. You must show a valid ID matching your address. Standard fees apply for any loads exceeding that volume.