Battle Creek, MI Trash & Recycling: Yard Waste Collection (2026)

Section 1064.23(c) of the Battle Creek Codified Ordinances handles yard waste in one sentence: rubbish and yard waste, other than materials intended for recycling, that cannot be secured in a container can be secured in bundles or deposited in plastic bags. The size of a bundle comes from the definitions in section 1064.06(5): tree, shrub and brush trimmings, newspapers or magazines securely tied together to form an easily handled package, not to exceed four feet in length or fifty pounds in weight. Section 1064.22(a) repeats the same two limits for rubbish that is cut, baled, tied, bundled or packaged.

Section 1064.23(e) deals with bags. No person may use plastic bags for unprotected outdoor storage of refuse, other than for leaves or other lawn debris. Bagged refuse counts as unprotected when the bags are not used as liners for galvanized metal cans or other approved construction, or are not placed in an enclosure that gives reasonable protection from damage by animals. Leaves and lawn debris are the one category the code exempts from that bag restriction.

Placement is controlled by section 1064.26(b). For curbside unlimited collection, all containers, bags, bundles and bulky wastes go at the curbside in a manner that prevents scattering, and the City contractor can decline to collect any item not placed that way. Under section 1064.27(a), nothing goes out earlier than 1:00 p.m. local time on the day before scheduled collection. Section 1064.25 has the City contractor collect on the designated weekday for each residential premises, and section 1064.21 says the contractor is not required to collect commercial refuse, construction waste or other refuse not generated from normal residential use. Fees for residential collection are set by the City Commission by resolution under section 1064.35.