Weekly Collection Schedule
Official municipal pickup timing for Saginaw
Trash Day
Trash is collected weekly, Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood route.
Recycling
Recycling is collected bi-weekly (every other week on an A-week/B-week schedule) on the same day as your trash collection.
Yard Waste
Yard waste is collected weekly on your regular collection day from the first full week of April through the first full week of December.
Set Out Time
By 7:00 AM on collection day
Utility Billing & Payments
Manage your local solid waste services
Curbside rubbish collection is generally assessed through annual property taxes and special assessments, while municipal water and sewer utilities are billed separately each month and can be paid online via BS&A Online.
Billing Cycle
Monthly
Accepted Methods
Online, AutoPay, Phone (24/7 automated line), Mail, Drop Box, In-Person
MMWA cart with blue lid Bin (Trash)
Must be placed curbside by 7:00 a.m. but not before 5:00 p.m. the night prior. Maintain a 3-foot clearance from other containers and objects. Containers must weigh less than 50 pounds.
Accepted Items
- ✓Standard household refuse
- ✓Bagged garbage
- ✓Non-hazardous waste
Designated Recycling Container Bin (Recycling)
Place materials loosely in the bin. Keep at least 3 feet away from trash and yard waste containers.
Accepted Items
- ✓Newspaper and junk mail
- ✓Flattened cardboard and boxboard
- ✓Aluminum and tin cans
- ✓Plastic bottles, jugs, and tubs
Do NOT Include
- ✕Plastic bags
- ✕Styrofoam
- ✕Yard waste
- ✕Hazardous chemicals
Yard Waste Bin
Must be placed in a separate, dedicated container from trash and recycling. Maintain the required 3-foot clearance.
Accepted Items
- ✓Grass clippings
- ✓Leaves
- ✓Small twigs and branches
- ✓Organic garden debris
Bulky Item Pickup
Frequency
Weekly on regular service day
Placement
Place alongside regular trash by 7:00 a.m. Keep 3 feet clear from regular carts.
Accepted
- ✓ Furniture
- ✓ Mattresses
- ✓ Large household appliances (freon removal rules may apply)
Not Accepted
- ✕ Construction materials
- ✕ Hazardous waste
- ✕ Tires
- ✕ Items that are too heavy for manual loading without special equipment
No advance scheduling is needed. The regular driver will either collect it or tag it with an orange sticker for a separate bulk truck to collect within 1-2 business days.
Holiday Schedule
General Rule
If an observed holiday falls on a weekday (Monday-Friday), collection for that day and all subsequent days that week will be delayed by one day.
Yard Waste Exception
The one-day delay applies to all services, including yard waste and recycling, during holiday weeks.
For example, if a holiday is on a Monday, Monday routes are serviced Tuesday, and Friday routes are serviced Saturday.
Observed Holidays
Seasonal Information
Spring and Summer
April - SeptemberDuring peak lawn care season, ensure all grass clippings and garden debris are kept strictly out of the regular trash. Mixing yard waste into the blue-lidded carts will result in a rejected collection.
Winter Weather
December - MarchHeavy snowstorms can occasionally delay routes. Ensure your carts are placed on a clear, flat surface—not on top of snowbanks—so the automated truck arms can safely reach them.
Holiday Volume
November - JanuaryThe holiday season brings excess cardboard. All cardboard boxes must be flattened before being placed in the recycling bin. If you exceed the bin's capacity, utilize the MMWA's recommended drop-off protocols.
Local Tips & Community Info
Curbside Garbage Collection Schedules & Requirements
Saginaw residents rely on the Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) for their dependable weekly refuse pickup. General waste is collected Monday through Friday, depending on your neighborhood zone. It is vital to have all your materials properly prepared and set at the curb no later than 7:00 a.m. on your designated service day. The city accepts standard garbage bags up to 55 gallons or sturdy plastic cans with handles ranging from 20 to 35 gallons. Keep in mind that any single container or bag must not weigh more than 50 pounds. Additionally, space out your different waste bins to allow collection crews to safely and swiftly service your household. If a can is mixed with yard clippings or recyclables, you might find a yellow sticker indicating contamination, and it will be left behind by the sanitation workers.
Saginaw's Bulk Item Allowances and Brush Rules
One of the excellent benefits of the MMWA program is the weekly bulky waste allowance. Households can set out up to two large items per week alongside their normal garbage without needing to call ahead or schedule an appointment. A bulk item is defined as anything too large to fit in a standard trash bin, like couches or mattresses. Simply place these heavy items out by 7:00 a.m. on your typical trash day. Interestingly, the specialized bulk collection truck usually runs one to two business days behind the regular garbage route, so do not panic if it isn't picked up immediately. Furthermore, residents are permitted one bundle of brush per week. Unlike grass clippings, brush must be tied up with twine or duct tape in bundles no larger than three by four feet, and placed with the regular trash rather than yard waste.
Recycling Calendar and Sorting Guidelines
Recycling in the City of Saginaw operates on an alternating schedule, categorized into an A Week and B Week calendar based on your address. To find your exact pickup week, residents can view the interactive map on the MMWA website. Acceptable recyclables include flattened cardboard, mixed paper, aluminum cans, and standard plastic bottles or tubs. All recyclables should be placed securely in your designated recycling cart. Items like plastic shopping bags, styrofoam, and hazardous chemicals are strictly prohibited and can disrupt the recycling process. Remember that the recycling truck makes its rounds on the same day as your garbage, so position your bins with adequate distance between them at the roadside to ensure seamless automated lifting.
Seasonal Yard Waste Operations
Beginning in early April and running through the fall season, the City of Saginaw provides dedicated yard waste collection. On your regular trash day, you can place leaves, grass clippings, and small twigs at the curb. However, they must be properly stored. You can use standard kraft paper yard waste bags or rigid 20 to 35-gallon cans. If using a can, you must clearly display a Yard Waste Only sticker, which is available for free at the City Clerk's Office inside City Hall or at the Public Works building. Similar to trash rules, no yard waste container can exceed 50 pounds. Importantly, never use plastic bags for organic yard debris, as they will not be collected by the crews and will result in a compliance warning.
Holidays and Missed Services Protocol
Throughout the year, there are six major holidays recognized by the MMWA that will delay your service: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. When one of these holidays falls on a weekday, collections for that day and the rest of the week are pushed back by exactly one day. Weekend holidays do not impact the schedule. If you ever experience a missed pickup despite having everything out by 7:00 a.m., you have a strict one-business-day window to report it. You must call MMWA at (989) 781-9555 before 5:00 p.m. the following business day to ensure the trucks circle back for your household materials.
Drop-off Facilities
City of Saginaw Convenience Station
Contact (989) 759-1662 for exact location and details, Saginaw, MI
Materials Accepted
MMWA Household Hazardous Waste Events
Various locations scheduled by MMWA
Materials Accepted
Frequently Asked Questions
How many bulk items can I throw away each week in Saginaw?
Residents can place up to two bulk items at the curb every week on their regular trash day without needing to schedule a pickup in advance. Keep in mind the bulk truck runs 1-2 days behind the regular trash collection.
Where can I get a yard waste sticker for my bin?
Free 'Yard Waste Only' stickers can be picked up at the City Clerk's Office inside City Hall at 1315 S. Washington Avenue, or at the Streets Division located at the Public Works Building at 1435 S. Washington Avenue.
What should I do if my trash was skipped?
If your waste was at the curb by 7:00 a.m. but not collected, you must call the Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) at (989) 781-9555 within one business day before 5:00 p.m. to report the missed service.