Kent County, Michigan does not provide curbside trash or recycling collection. The Department of Public Works operates the Waste-to-Energy facility, landfill, transfer station, and Recycling & Education Center; residents hire a private licensed hauler for pickup, with schedules set by that hauler and the municipality.
Kent County's Department of Public Works (DPW) operates the region's disposal and processing system, including the county-owned, Covanta-operated Waste-to-Energy Facility and the Recycling & Education Center in Grand Rapids. However, the DPW states that it "operates the processing facilities for waste and recycling but does not provide collection or pick-up services for recycling or trash from residences or businesses." Households and businesses contract directly with a private licensed hauler, which sets the collection day, cart, and service terms. Some cities and townships arrange a municipal contract hauler for their residents. Residents may also self-haul trash to county facilities: bagged trash costs $5.00 per bag (two-bag maximum per load) as of January 1, 2026.
There is no county pickup ordinance to violate; missed-pickup and service disputes are handled between the resident, the private hauler, and the municipality.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Kent County, MI
Kent County has no ordinance using the word 'hoarding,' but its adequate-care, sanitary-condition, and cruelty provisions let Animal Control seize animals ke...
Kent County, MI
Kent County's Animal Control Ordinance does not address feeding wild animals. Deer and elk baiting and feeding are regulated statewide by the Michigan DNR, w...
Kent County, MI
Kent County requires licensing and leashing only for dogs, not cats. Cats are still covered by the ordinance's adequate-care and cruelty provisions, and by M...
Kent County, MI
Kent County sets no general household pet cap, but any establishment keeping three or more dogs for sale, boarding, breeding, or training for pay is a 'kenne...
Kentwood, MI
Kentwood allows keeping of domestic animals, fowl or insects (including ducks, chickens, bees, goats and rabbits) only after Zoning Administrator review and ...
Kent County, MI
Backyard composting is allowed and encouraged in Kent County. Michigan law bans yard clippings from landfills, and the Kent County Department of Public Works...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Kent County.
See how Kentwood's pickup rules & schedules rules stack up against other locations.
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