Ann Arbor, MI Trash & Recycling: Mandatory Organics Recycling (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Ann Arbor City Code Chapter 26
- Default status
- Compost participation required, opt-out only
- Exemption filing
- Compost compliance plan and report
- Renewal
- Re-filed annually each July 1
Summary
Ann Arbor enrolls every eligible customer in city compost collection by default: opting out requires an approved, annually renewed exemption under City Code Chapter 26.
If the city provides a compost service, any customer may request that they be exempted from use of the city provided compost service. The request shall be submitted to the City Administrator or designee, and specify the circumstances that necessitate such exemption status, which may include but are not limited to a specialized service that cannot be provided by the city service.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 26 Update 4).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 26 makes participation in the city's compost service the baseline: a customer has to affirmatively request, and the City Administrator has to grant, an exemption before opting out. The request must include a compost compliance plan and report, gets reviewed for genuine hardship such as a specialized service the city can't match, and must be renewed every 12 months starting July 1 or it lapses. Even an exempted customer still has to keep complying with every other requirement of Chapter 26 and the solid waste regulations, or the exemption is administratively revoked.
Violations & Fines
Skipping compost separation without an approved exemption is treated as noncompliance with Chapter 26's container and collection rules: a civil infraction fined $200 to $1,000 per offense under § 2:12.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is composting mandatory in Ann Arbor?
How does an Ann Arbor customer get out of compost collection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
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