Ann Arbor, MI Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)
Key Facts
- Max limb diameter
- 6 inches
- Max limb length
- 4 feet
- Governing chapter
- City Code Chapter 26
- Collection interval
- set by solid waste regulations
Summary
Ann Arbor's solid waste code defines yard waste as compostable leaves, brush, and tree limbs up to 6 inches thick and 4 feet long, collected curbside with recyclables and refuse.
Compostables means leaves, brush, tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet in length, vegetative prunings, and other garden or yard waste, and other organic material as may be specified in the solid waste regulations.
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
Ann Arbor's Chapter 26 solid waste code lists yard waste under 'compostables': leaves, brush, tree limbs up to 6 inches in diameter and 4 feet long, vegetative prunings, and other garden or yard waste (§ 2:1(4)). Compostables are collected through the city's curb cart system alongside refuse and recyclables, though the exact collection interval for compostables, unlike the weekly refuse minimum, is set separately in the city's solid waste regulations under § 2:2(2). Larger branches exceeding the size limit count as bulk items requiring private arrangement, not curbside compost pickup.
Violations & Fines
Violating Chapter 26's compostables handling and container rules is a civil infraction: $200 for a first offense, $400 for a second, and up to $1,000 for repeat offenses within 5 years (§ 2:12).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put grass clippings in the yard waste cart?
How big can brush be for curbside pickup?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Ann Arbor
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