Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Muskegon
Trash Day
Trash is collected once weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your residential zone.
Recycling
Curbside single-stream recycling is opt-in and collected once every four weeks on your scheduled collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected curbside weekly on your regular trash collection day from the first week of April through November (weather permitting).
Set Out Time
By 6:00 AM on collection day (carts may be set out starting at 4:00 PM the day before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Trash and sanitation fees are included directly on your monthly municipal utility bill, and signing up for paperless e-billing or automatic bank draft earns a $0.75 monthly credit.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay (ACH), 24/7 DivDat Kiosk, Mail, Phone, In Person
Standard City Cart Bin (Trash)
Place cart at the curb with the handle facing the house. Extra bags require a purchased Mixed Refuse Sticker. Do not use unauthorized carts ($35 fine).
Accepted Items
- ✓Bagged household garbage
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Non-recyclable plastics
Blue (90-gallon tote) Bin (Recycling)
Must opt-in to receive the tote. Collection is every four weeks. A second bin costs $54/year. Keep 3 feet away from your trash cart.
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
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Tanglers (hoses, cords)
Yard Waste Bin
Use paper yard waste bags (available at DPW for $2/five pack) or marked rigid containers. Set 3 feet to the left of your garbage can.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs
- ✓Garden trimmings
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
By Appointment / Paid Stickers
Placement
Items must be scheduled and properly stickered before being placed at the curb.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large non-hazardous household items
Not Accepted
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Liquid paint
- ✕ Motorized tools with oil/gas
- ✕ Construction debris
Bulk Item stickers must be purchased from the city. Call DPW at 231-724-4100 to determine the cost and schedule pickup for oversized items.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a holiday falls on a weekday, garbage and recycling services will be delayed by one day for the remainder of that week.
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collections follow the same one-day delay as trash and recycling during holiday weeks in the active season.
If the observed holiday falls on a weekend, your standard collection schedule is unaffected.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring & Summer
April to OctoberCurbside yard waste collection runs weekly on your standard garbage day. Ensure all organic material is in paper Kraft bags or rigid containers to avoid foul odors in the hot summer months.
Autumn
NovemberAs the leaves fall, take advantage of the final weeks of curbside yard waste pickup, which ends in November (weather permitting). The Leaf Drop-Off Site on N. Quarterline Rd is also open for excess volume.
Winter
December to MarchYard waste services are suspended. During lake-effect snowfalls, ensure your garbage carts are cleared of snow and accessible to the automated trucks; do not place carts in the street where they block snowplows.
Local Tips & Community Info
Muskegon's Curbside Refuse Guidelines and Carts
Maintaining clean and beautiful neighborhoods throughout the City of Muskegon requires cooperation with the local sanitation department. Every eligible residential property is required to place their household garbage securely inside the city-issued refuse cart. To guarantee your weekly pickup, ensure that your cart is wheeled to the street edge early in the morning on your scheduled collection day. All trash must be securely bagged before being placed in the bin, and the lid must be completely closed to prevent litter from blowing into the street or attracting local wildlife. Collection crews are instructed to ignore overflow waste, scattered items, or any loose plastic bags piled on top of or next to the official container.
Opt-In Single-Stream Recycling with Republic Services
Promoting environmental stewardship, Muskegon offers a convenient single-stream curbside recycling program. However, unlike standard garbage collection, this service operates strictly on an opt-in basis. Residents who wish to participate must proactively register with the city. Once enrolled, you will receive a spacious 90-gallon tote designed to hold all of your mixed recyclables, including flattened cardboard, clean plastics, and aluminum cans. Because the program utilizes a single-stream format, there is no need to separate your materials. Collection for recycling occurs on a staggered schedule, with trucks servicing your neighborhood once every four weeks. If your household generates an abundance of recyclables, you can contact Republic Services directly to lease a second recycling bin for an annual fee of $54.
Managing Yard Debris and State Regulations
As the Michigan seasons change, homeowners inevitably accumulate a large amount of landscaping debris. It is crucial to understand that Michigan state law strictly prohibits placing organic yard waste into traditional landfills. Consequently, residents must never place grass clippings, leaves, soil, or brush inside their regular city-issued trash carts. If the sanitation workers spot any yard debris mixed in with your household garbage, the entire bin will be tagged with a warning and rejected at the curb. Instead, property owners must utilize dedicated yard waste disposal methods, utilizing approved compost bags or specialized rigid containers during the designated seasonal collection periods.
Special Pickups for Bulk Waste and Heavy Appliances
From time to time, you may need to dispose of oversized items that simply will not fit into a standard curbside cart. Discarding bulky materials such as worn-out mattresses, box springs, carpeting, or heavy wooden furniture requires advanced planning, as these items cannot be abandoned at the road without prior authorization. Furthermore, strict environmental protocols apply to major household appliances. If you need to throw away a refrigerator, freezer, dehumidifier, or any unit containing Freon, federal regulations mandate that the hazardous gases must be safely extracted by a certified professional. The appliance must bear an official sticker proving the Freon was removed before the hauling crew can legally transport it.
Schedule Adjustments for Major Holidays
The standard waste collection routine in Muskegon is occasionally altered to accommodate major national holidays. The sanitation department officially observes six holidays throughout the calendar year: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas Day. When one of these significant holidays falls on a weekday, all refuse and recycling collections scheduled for that day and the remainder of the workweek will be delayed by exactly one day. For example, a Wednesday pickup will shift to Thursday. If the holiday happens to land on a Saturday or Sunday, your normal weekday routing remains completely unaffected, and you should set your bins out on their regular day.
Drop-off Facilities
Leaf Drop-Off Site
101 N. Quarterline Rd, Muskegon, MI (Just North of Muskegon Community College)
Materials Accepted
Muskegon County Solid Waste Dept. (Household Hazardous Waste)
By appointment only
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is recycling automatically provided to all Muskegon residents?
No, the curbside single-stream recycling program is available on an opt-in basis. Residents must register with the city to receive their 90-gallon tote, which is then serviced once every four weeks.
Can I throw my grass clippings into the city trash cart?
Absolutely not. Michigan state law prohibits organic yard waste from entering landfills. Trash carts found containing grass, leaves, or brush will be rejected at the curb by sanitation crews.
How much does a second recycling bin cost?
If you produce more recyclables than one cart can handle, you can request an additional recycling bin directly from Republic Services for a current annual fee of $54.