Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Portage
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.
Green cart with matching lid (provided by WM) Bin (Trash)
All trash must be securely bagged and tied before being placed in the 96-gallon or 64-gallon cart. The lid must close tightly, and items left on the ground outside the cart will not be collected.
Accepted Items
- ✓Food waste
- ✓Chip bags
- ✓Paper towels
- ✓Lightly used textiles
- ✓Standard household garbage
Green cart with a yellow lid (provided by WM) Bin (Recycling)
Recyclables must be kept loose inside the cart. Do not bag your recycling. Cardboard must be broken down completely to fit inside.
Accepted Items
- ✓Plastics
- ✓Cartons
- ✓Paper and junk mail
- ✓Cardboard
- ✓Paper and plastic to-go cups
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Food waste
- ✕Tanglers (cords, hoses)
- ✕Batteries
Yard Waste Bin
Requires prepayment and enrollment between March 1 and March 31. Residents receive a 96-gallon yard waste cart and can set one additional yard waste paper bag outside the cart.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small branches
- ✓Garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
One item per week on your regular collection day
Placement
The scheduled bulk item must be placed at the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the service day, keeping clear of the trash and recycling carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture (sofas, dressers, chairs)
- ✓ Mattresses (must be wrapped in plastic)
- ✓ Small household appliances
- ✓ Carpet and padding (rolled, tied, max 4 feet long and 50 lbs)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Appliances with undrained freon
- ✕ Concrete, brick, or roofing materials
- ✕ Batteries and hazardous waste
- ✕ Contractor construction debris
- ✕ Auto parts, tires, and motor oil
The first bulk item per week is included at no additional fee. If you need to dispose of multiple bulk items at once, additional items can be scheduled for a supplemental fee billed by WM.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If a designated holiday falls on a weekday, collections for the remainder of the week are pushed back by one day (e.g., Thursday service moves to Friday).
Yard Waste Exception
Yard waste collection ceases entirely on November 30 and does not run through the major winter holidays.
If a holiday falls on a Saturday or Sunday, there are no delays to the regular weekly collection schedule.
Observed Holidays
!Contamination Tips
Loose Recyclables Only
Never put your recyclables in garbage bags or plastic grocery bags. The sorting facility's machinery will get tangled, causing major delays and safety risks for workers. Dump items directly from your indoor bin into the curbside cart.
Keep the Lid Closed Tight
Overfilled carts are considered contaminated or improperly set out. If your trash or recycling cart is overflowing to the point where the lid cannot shut completely, WM drivers may refuse service or charge an overage fee.
Empty and Drain Appliances
If you are utilizing the bulk item pickup for a refrigerator or freezer, it is crucial that the doors are removed for safety, and any freon must be professionally drained prior to pickup.
Seasonal Information
Spring
MarchMarch is the critical enrollment window for the seasonal yard waste program. If you wish to participate in the April through November yard waste collection, you must sign up and prepay the annual fee directly through WM by March 31.
Autumn
October - NovemberDuring peak leaf drop, remember that the standard residential yard waste program only allows for the provided 96-gallon cart plus one extra paper yard waste bag per week. Manage heavy leaf accumulation gradually over the season.
Winter
December - FebruaryDuring heavy Michigan snowfall, ensure your carts are placed at the edge of the driveway or a shoveled area, not on top of snowbanks. Carts must be kept at least 3 feet away from mailboxes, snow piles, and parked cars.
About Portage Waste Management
Transition to a Unified Single-Hauler System
Starting in 2026, the City of Portage modernized its approach to residential sanitation by transitioning to a unified, single-hauler waste and recycling program operated by Waste Management (WM). This strategic move was designed to minimize heavy truck traffic on neighborhood streets, reduce wear and tear on local infrastructure, and provide standard, high-quality carts to every participating household.
Understanding the Split Billing Structure
One of the most unique aspects of Portage's solid waste program is how residents are billed. Weekly curbside trash collection is billed quarterly directly to the homeowner by WM. However, the every-other-week recycling service is funded entirely through a voter-approved millage, meaning the cost is built directly into your property taxes, and you will not receive a separate invoice for recycling.
Advanced Collection Technology on Portage Routes
To ensure peak efficiency and correct sorting behavior, WM's automated collection trucks servicing Portage are equipped with state-of-the-art GPS and video detection technology. These built-in cameras allow operators to monitor what is being dumped into the truck from the carts, helping to log service times precisely, identify heavily contaminated recycling bins, and provide targeted education to residents who may be sorting improperly.
Eco-Carts and Sustainable Manufacturing
In partnership with West Michigan companies like Cascade Engineering, the Eco-Carts distributed to Portage residents are actually manufactured using 10% post-consumer recycled plastics collected directly from residential curbside programs. This creates a circular economy right in the region, turning everyday household recyclables into the very bins used to collect them.
Partnership with the Kalamazoo County HHW Center
Because hazardous household chemicals are strictly banned from WM carts, Portage residents are encouraged to utilize the Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center located at 1301 Lamont Avenue. This facility allows residents of participating local municipalities to safely dispose of materials like oil-based paints, pesticides, aerosols, and used motor oil without harming the local watershed.
Drop-off Facilities
Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center
1301 Lamont Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How am I billed for trash and recycling services in Portage?
Billing is split based on the service type. Trash collection is billed directly to the resident on a quarterly basis by Waste Management (WM). Recycling is a tax-funded service paid for by a voter-approved millage on your property taxes, so you will not see a separate recycling bill.
Do I need to schedule a bulk trash pickup in Portage?
Yes. While you are allowed to put out one large bulk item per week for free on your regular service day, you must schedule the pickup at least 48 hours in advance through the WM online portal.
What is the deadline to enroll in the yard waste program?
Residents must sign up and prepay for the seasonal yard waste program during a strict enrollment window between March 1 and March 31. The service runs weekly from April 1 through November 30.
Can I leave extra trash bags next to my cart if it gets full?
No. All household trash must fit securely inside the provided 96-gallon or 64-gallon WM cart with the lid closed securely. Any items or bags placed on the ground outside the cart will not be collected by the automated trucks.