Trash & Recycling in Kalamazoo, MI (2026)
7 verified trash & recycling rules for Kalamazoo, Michigan, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Bin Placement Rules
In the City of Kalamazoo, garbage and rubbish containers must sit no closer to the street than the house's front roofline unless it is collection day, when curbside placement is allowed from 8:00 p.m. the night before until 11:00 p.m. the collection day itself. Containers must be watertight, rodent-proof, and kept lidded.
Kalamazoo Garbage Container Placement Rules
Some RestrictionsKalamazoo City Code § 15A-2A, B
§ 15A-2. Storage and location of garbage and rubbish containers. ... A. No person, firm or corporation shall place, or allow to remain, on any lot any garbage or rubbish container closer to the street right-of-way than the closest (to the street right-of-way) vertical roof-supporting member of the main structure on said lot; provided, however, any person who has curbside collection service may ...
Bulk Item Disposal
Kalamazoo's regular curbside collection will not take any solid waste item too heavy for two average-size people to lift without equipment, so oversized furniture and appliances are excluded from routine pickup. Branches and brush placed at the curb must be securely bundled and cannot exceed four feet in length, under Chapter 31.
Kalamazoo Bulk Item & Brush Disposal Rules
Some RestrictionsKalamazoo City Code §§ 31-18, 31-19, 31-25
No person shall deposit, for public collection by the City or its duly authorized contractor: ... Any solid waste item which cannot be lifted or loaded by two persons of average size, without assistance of any equipment or machinery. ... Branches or brush, when deposited for collection, shall be securely bundled and shall not exceed four feet in length. ... Any person, firm or corporation found...
Holiday Pickup Schedule
In the City of Kalamazoo, when New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day or Christmas Day falls on a weekday, City Code § 15A-20.1A lets garbage and rubbish collection companies shift the rest of that week's curbside route one day later, allowing Saturday pickup for a route that would otherwise run Friday. The holiday-shift rule has applied since January 1, 2009.
Kalamazoo Holiday Trash Collection One-Day Delay
Light RestrictionsKalamazoo City Code § 15A-20.1A
Provided, however, said companies may engage in curbside collection service on a one-day-late schedule (which would permit Saturday pick-up) when the following holidays fall during the period of Monday through Friday: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. The curbside collection service schedule as set forth in this subsection shall beco...
Illegal Dumping
Kalamazoo City Code § 22-10 makes it unlawful to dump, deposit or leave refuse, debris or litter on public or private property in the City of Kalamazoo without the owner's consent. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety enforces the ban with a sliding municipal civil infraction fine schedule tied to the volume of litter involved.
Kalamazoo Illegal Dumping Penalties
Heavy RestrictionsKalamazoo City Code § 22-10
It is unlawful for a person knowingly, without the consent of the public authority having supervision of public property or the owner of private property, to dump, deposit, place, throw, or leave or cause or permit the dumping, depositing, placing, throwing or leaving of any refuse, debris, or other litter on public or private property. ... Penalty. ... (1) A person who violates this section sh...
Yard Waste Collection
Grass clippings, leaves, weeds, and hedge or shrub trimmings set out for City collection in Kalamazoo must go in containers made of galvanized metal, wood fiber, plastic or other nonrusting material under Chapter 31. Newspapers and magazines tied in bundles are the only loose materials exempt from the container requirement.
Kalamazoo Yard Waste Container Rules
Some RestrictionsKalamazoo City Code §§ 31-19, 31-25
Any solid waste deposited for public collection consisting of or containing grass clippings, leaves, weeds, hedge or shrub trimmings, ashes, newspapers, waste paper or other loose or easily scattered materials, shall be deposited in suitable containers to be made of galvanized metal, wood fiber, plastic or other nonrusting material. Newspapers and magazines, when securely tied in bundles, need ...
Dumpster Rules
In the City of Kalamazoo, a one-cubic-yard-or-larger dumpster picked up by mechanical means may sit somewhere other than the standard placement line only with a City permit and fee, issued solely when the lot's physical layout would block mechanical pickup access if the bin followed the normal setback rule.
Kalamazoo Commercial Dumpster Placement Permit
Significant RestrictionsKalamazoo City Code § 15A-2C
Notwithstanding the provisions of Subsection A above, a metal container one cubic yard or larger in capacity (commonly called a "bin" or "dumpster") which is picked up by mechanical means may be otherwise located on the lot, but only after a permit has been obtained from the City and a fee as set by the City has been paid. Said permit shall be issued only if the physical layout of the lot and s...
Collection Schedule
In the City of Kalamazoo, every garbage or rubbish collection company must run curbside service only on the single weekday City Code § 15A-20.1 assigns to each of five geographic areas, from Area 1 on Monday to Area 5 on Friday. Collectors also cannot work within 300 feet of a dwelling between 11:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m., though back-door pickup is allowed any day in any area.
Kalamazoo Curbside Trash Collection Days by Area
Some RestrictionsKalamazoo City Code § 15A-20.1
§ 15A-20.1. Collection of garbage or rubbish. ... A. Any garbage or rubbish collection company operating in the City shall engage in curbside collection service in the following geographical areas only on the designated days: ... Area 1-Monday: That area of the City located west of the center line of Westnedge Avenue, and north of the center line of Howard Street to the center line of Stadium D...