Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Portage
Trash Day
Weekly curbside trash collection is scheduled Monday through Friday based on your neighborhood zone. Residents can check their specific pickup day on the Waste Management portal at home.wm.com/portage-mi.
Recycling
Curbside recycling is collected every other week on your designated trash collection day.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly from April 1 through November 30 for enrolled subscribers. The city also operates seasonal quarterly curbside brush pickup and fall leaf collection.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day (or set out the evening before)
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
City water and sewer services are billed quarterly by the Portage Treasury Office. Curbside trash service is billed directly by Waste Management quarterly, while residential recycling is funded through property taxes.
Billing Cycle
Quarterly
Accepted Methods
Online, Auto-Pay, Phone, Mail, 24-Hour Drop Box, In-Person
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
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.
Local Tips & Community Info
Waste Management (WM) Services in Portage
The City of Portage partners directly with WM (Waste Management) to execute all residential curbside collections. Rather than having refuse charges bundled into your municipal property taxes, homeowners receive a direct quarterly bill from WM for standard trash services. Residents are provided with either 96-gallon or 64-gallon carts for regular household garbage. Because it is a highly automated system, it is essential that all trash is properly bagged before being tossed into the bin, preventing loose debris from blowing into the streets during collection.
Every-Other-Week Recycling Initiative
In a unique setup, the Portage recycling program is completely funded by a voter-approved property tax millage, meaning residents do not receive a separate utility bill for this service. The automated recycling trucks service neighborhoods on an every-other-week schedule. To ensure the materials can be successfully processed, all items like clean plastics, cardboard, and aluminum cans must be placed loosely into the cart. Never bag your recyclables in plastic grocery sacks, as this will trigger rejection at the sorting facility.
Arranging Free Weekly Bulk Pickups
A significant benefit for Portage residents is the inclusion of free bulk item disposal within the WM contract. Households are permitted to throw away one oversized item per week—such as a piece of furniture, a mattress, or a non-freon appliance—at no extra charge. However, this is not an automatic pickup. You are required to contact WM customer service at least 24 hours in advance of your normal service day to officially schedule the collection truck.
Seasonal Yard Debris Program
To keep organic waste out of standard landfills, a seasonal compost and yard waste route operates from April 1st through November 30th. Billed on an annual basis by WM, this service provides homes with a designated 96-gallon yard waste cart perfect for grass clippings, leaves, and small brush. Additionally, the local rule allows residents to place exactly one compostable paper yard bag on the ground next to the cart each week for collection.
Proper Cart Placement and Clearances
To guarantee the mechanical arms on the sanitation vehicles function flawlessly, carts must be pushed to the very edge of the street with their wheels resting firmly against the curb. All bins need to be out by 7:00 a.m. on your designated pickup morning. Please maintain a strict minimum distance of three feet away from mailboxes, fire hydrants, parked vehicles, and other obstacles so the driver can safely grab the container.
Navigating the Holiday Route Schedule
WM observes major national holidays that may occasionally alter your typical service day. If a recognized holiday falls between Monday and Friday, all neighborhood collections for that day and the remainder of the workweek will be delayed by precisely 24 hours. Conversely, if a major holiday occurs on a Saturday or Sunday, there will be no disruption to the regular weekday schedules.
Drop-off Facilities
Kalamazoo County Household Hazardous Waste Center
1301 Lamont Avenue, Kalamazoo, MI 49048
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
Is bulk item disposal free in Portage?
Yes, Portage residents can place one large item per week at the curb for free. However, you must contact WM at least 24 hours in advance to officially schedule the pickup.
How do I pay for my curbside recycling service?
Recycling is funded entirely through a voter-approved property tax millage, so there is no separate quarterly bill generated for the recycling portion of your waste management.
When does the yard waste collection season begin and end?
The seasonal yard waste program runs annually from April 1st through November 30th, utilizing a designated 96-gallon cart and allowing one extra paper bag per week.