Grand Rapids Trash Pickup Schedule, Recycling & Yard Waste 2026
Find your Grand Rapids collection day, recycling dates, yard waste tags, bulk sticker info, and 2026 holiday delays.
City of Grand Rapids · Public Works Department · Waste Services · Updated May 2026
Find Your Grand Rapids Collection Day
Select your pickup day to see your trash, recycling, and yard waste schedule — plus 2026 holiday delays. Your exact route is address-specific; use the official Route Map for your route number.
👈 Select your day above to see your complete Grand Rapids collection schedule.
⚠ Don’t know your route number? Look it up on the official Route Map, or call 311 / 616-456-3000. More contact options ↓
Grand Rapids Waste Collection — Quick Facts
The City of Grand Rapids Public Works Department serves all residents with pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) refuse service, free biweekly recycling (property tax funded), and optional yard waste collection. All three services run on the same assigned weekday by address route. The city uses a route number system — find yours via the official Route Map.
Grand Rapids Trash, Recycling & Yard Waste — How It Works
All three services run on your assigned route day. Trash (PAYT) is weekly. Recycling is every other week. Yard waste is optional and seasonal, collected on the same day. Your route number determines both your weekday and your recycling week. Find your route using the official GIS Route Map or call 311.
Trash Cart — Pay-As-You-Throw
3 sizes: 32-gal ($3.63/tip), 64-gal ($6.05/tip), 96-gal ($8.47/tip). Weekly collection. You only pay when tipped.
Weekly • PAYTBlue Cart — Single-Stream Recycling
64-gal or 96-gal. All clean recyclables loose (no bags). Free — funded by property tax millage. Biweekly.
Every Other Week • FreeYard Waste — Optional Seasonal
City cart ($30 setup + $6.50/tag each time), City paper bags ($2.75 each), or bulk tag ($2.75). Apr–mid-Dec.
Apr–Mid-Dec • Tag/Bag Fee⏰ Set-Out Rules
- All carts and items out by 7:00 a.m. on your collection day.
- Cart size limits: max 6 ft × 5 ft for any single bulk item (larger won’t fit in truck).
- Keep trash and recycling carts at least 3 feet apart and from other obstacles.
- Place carts within a few feet of the curb with the lid opening facing the street.
- If your cart is left at the curb when the truck passes, it may be tipped and charged to your account even if your balance is zero.
Grand Rapids Holiday Trash Collection Schedule 2026
Grand Rapids delays trash, recycling, and yard waste collection by one day for the five holidays below. All other holidays are normal service days. MLK Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Veterans Day, Juneteenth, and Columbus Day are not observed and run on normal schedules.
| Holiday | 2026 Date | Impact | What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | Thu, Jan 1 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Thu → Fri; Fri → Sat. Mon–Wed: normal. |
| MLK Jr. Day | Mon, Jan 19 | Normal | Not observed. Regular service on all routes. |
| Presidents’ Day | Mon, Feb 16 | Normal | Not observed. Regular service on all routes. |
| Memorial Day | Mon, May 25 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Mon → Tue; Fri → Sat. Full week delayed. |
| Independence Day | Sat, Jul 4 | Normal | Falls on Saturday — no weekday impact. Regular service all week. |
| Labor Day | Mon, Sep 7 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Mon → Tue; Fri → Sat. Full week delayed. |
| Veterans Day | Wed, Nov 11 | Normal | Not observed. Regular service on all routes. |
| Thanksgiving Day | Thu, Nov 26 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Thu → Fri; Fri → Sat. Mon–Wed: normal. |
| Christmas Day | Fri, Dec 25 | 1-Day Delay | All routes that week shift one day later. Fri → Sat. Mon–Thu: normal. |
Grand Rapids Recycling — What Goes in the Blue Cart
Grand Rapids uses single-stream recycling since 2010 — all recyclables go loose in one blue cart, every other week on your regular collection day. The program is free, funded by a property tax millage. Carts are 64-gal or 96-gal. Note: shredded paper is NOT accepted in the blue cart; it must be placed in black trash bags and disposed in your trash cart.
✅ Accepted in the Blue Cart
- Paper: newspapers, magazines, office paper, junk mail, paperback books
- Cardboard: flattened boxes (break to 2′×2′ max), tissue boxes, cereal boxes
- Plastics #1–7: bottles, jugs, dairy tubs, yogurt cups, food trays, flower pots, shampoo bottles, peanut butter jars, milk jugs — caps on
- Metal: aluminum cans, aluminum foil (balled), steel food cans, aerosol cans (empty)
- Glass: beverage bottles, food jars (all colors, rinsed) — remove lids separately
🚫 Never in the Blue Cart
- Shredded paper → trash cart in a tied bag
- Plastic bags & film → Meijer, Lowe’s, or Target store drop-off
- Styrofoam → designated drop-off locations
- Batteries → drop-off locations
- Hardcover books → Paper Gator at schools/churches
- Bakeware, pots, pans, hangers, wax paper, wrapping paper
- Automotive or hazardous plastic containers
- Non-food/beverage glass (windows, mirrors, ceramics, dishes)
- Light bulbs, garden hoses, ropes, tanglers
- Food waste (goes in trash)
🍃 Kent County Recycling Guide
For a comprehensive visual guide to what is and isn’t accepted, view the Kent County Recycling Guide on the city’s website. When in doubt about a specific item, call 311 or 616-456-3000 before placing it in the blue cart.
Grand Rapids Yard Waste — Cart Tags, Paper Bags & Free Drop-Off
Yard waste collection runs from the first full week in April through the second Friday in December 2026. Collection is on your regular pickup day. Grand Rapids offers three options for curbside yard waste — all require a tag or the correct bag. Plastic bags are never accepted for yard waste.
🗎 Yard Waste Cart
$30 one-time setup fee (non-refundable). Each time you want it emptied, attach a yellow Yard Waste Cart Tag ($6.50 each). Request service online at grandrapidsmi.gov or call 311.
🗎 City Yard Waste Paper Bags
$2.75 each, or 5-pack for $13.75. Only official City of Grand Rapids yard waste paper bags are collected without a tag. Max 30 lbs per bag.
🗎 Yard Waste Bulk Tag
Green bulk tag, $2.75 each. Use for bundles of branches/twigs (max 4 ft long, 2 in diameter) or to attach to a non-City paper yard waste bag.
Note: Purple tags still accepted during transition to green tags.
🌿 Free Yard Waste Drop-Off Site
2001 Butterworth SW, Grand Rapids
Free for Grand Rapids residents. Bring ID for proof of residence. Yard waste must be loose or in a paper bag — no plastic bags. Apr–mid-Dec: Mon–Sat 7:30am–4pm. Winter: Mon–Fri 7:30am–4:30pm.
🌿 What’s Accepted as Yard Waste
- Leaves, grass clippings, weeds, garden trimmings
- Twigs and small branches (bundled, max 4 ft long, 2 in diameter with bulk tag)
- Christmas trees at end of season (with tag)
Not accepted: Dirt, rocks, landscape timbers, treated wood, pet waste, or any yard material in plastic bags.
🌿 Free Compost & Mulch for Residents
Grand Rapids residents can pick up one cubic yard of compost or mulch at no cost (per season, first come first served) from the yard waste drop-off site at 2001 Butterworth SW. Available every Saturday in April through June during normal site hours. Additional material is available for purchase at retail prices.
Purchase yard waste cart tags, paper bags, and bulk tags at City Hall (300 Monroe Ave NW, “M” level) and select retailers throughout the city.
Grand Rapids Bulk Item Collection — $40 Sticker System
Grand Rapids uses a $40 City Bulk Sticker system for large items and appliances. Each item or appliance requires one $40 sticker. Items are generally collected within one week of purchase. Maximum item size is 6 ft × 5 ft — larger items won’t fit in the truck. You can also schedule and pay online for next-business-day service.
📅 How to Use the Bulk Sticker System
- Option 1 — Online payment (fastest): Pay at payments.grandrapidsmi.gov/bulk. Place item(s) at the curb by 7:00 a.m. the following business day. No physical sticker needed for online orders.
- Option 2 — Buy a bulk sticker: Purchase a $40 City Bulk Sticker at the City Hall Customer Service storefront (M level, 300 Monroe Ave NW) or at select supermarkets and neighborhood stores. See the vendor location list PDF for stores near you.
- Attach the sticker to the item and place it at the curbside by 7:00 a.m. on your regular collection day (or the following business day for online orders).
- Leave the item at the curb until it is collected. Collection happens within one week of purchase. Items without a sticker (or not paid online) will not be collected and the property owner may receive a violation.
✅ Accepted with $40 Bulk Sticker
- Appliances: washers, dryers, dishwashers, water heaters, microwaves, ACs, humidifiers, furnaces, garbage disposals
- Refrigerators and freezers — doors must be removed before collection
- Furniture: couches, love seats, recliners, dressers, bed frames, buffets, hutches, wall units, stereo cabinets
- Household items: mattresses, box springs, bathtubs, sinks, doors (glass or wood), sliding doors, window awnings, garage doors
- Max size: 6 ft × 5 ft per item
🚫 Not Collected Curbside
- Items over 6 ft × 5 ft → must be cut down or taken to drop-off
- Appliances with doors not removed (fridges, freezers)
- Construction or demolition debris
- Tires → contact a tire retailer or landfill
- Hazardous materials → Kent County SafeChem
- Electronics → various drop-off options
- Items without a sticker or online payment
- Commercial or business waste
Hazardous Waste & Electronics in Grand Rapids
The City of Grand Rapids partners with Kent County Department of Public Works for household hazardous waste disposal through the SafeChem program. For electronics, there are multiple year-round options. None of these items belong in your trash or recycling cart.
🔥 Kent County SafeChem (HHW)
Free household hazardous waste collection for Kent County residents. Accepts paint, chemicals, motor oil, cleaners, pesticides, propane, and more.
kentcountymi.gov/SafeChem • Call for current hours and locations
♻ Batteries & Styrofoam
Batteries: Find drop-off at call2recycle.org/locator
Styrofoam: Find drop-off at reimaginetrash.org
💾 Electronics (E-Waste)
TVs, computers, phones, and most electronics can be dropped off at many local retailers for free. Call ahead for current items and fees.
Call 311 or 616-456-3000 for current e-waste drop-off locations near you.
🗎 Plastic Bags & Film
Drop off plastic bags, film wrap, and bubble wrap at designated in-store recycling bins at Meijer, Lowe’s, or Target. Verify with the specific store before bringing bags.
Find locations: plasticfilmrecycling.org
What to Do If Your Trash Wasn’t Collected in Grand Rapids
- Find your route and verify your collection day. Use the official Route Map to confirm your exact collection day and recycling week based on your route number. Confirm whether this was your recycling week.
- Check for a holiday delay. New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas each delay all routes by one day. Verify at grandrapidsmi.gov/holiday-delays.
- Verify cart placement: out by 7 a.m., accessible from the street, lid fully closed, at least 3 feet from obstacles. If you have yard waste, confirm it has the proper tag or City paper bag.
- Report a missed trash pickup at grandrapidsmi.gov/report-missed-trash. Report a missed recycling pickup at grandrapidsmi.gov/report-missed-recycling. Both can also be reported by calling 311 or 616-456-3000.
- For bulk items that weren’t collected: verify you have the sticker properly attached and the item was placed within the 6 ft × 5 ft size limit. Contact 311 if the item was compliant and not collected within one week of purchase.
Grand Rapids Trash & Recycling Tips Every Resident Should Know
🏠 New to Grand Rapids or Just Moved In?
Start or transfer waste service by requesting it at grandrapidsmi.gov/request-services or calling 616-456-3000. Maintain a positive account balance for PAYT trash service — manage it online at payments.grandrapidsmi.gov. Use the Route Map to find your collection day and recycling week. If you use less trash by recycling more, you can switch to a smaller cart and pay less per tip.
📈 PAYT Means Recycling Saves You Money
Grand Rapids’ pay-per-tip model creates a direct financial incentive to recycle. The more you put in the free blue recycling cart, the less you fill your trash cart — and the less you pay. A household that recycles well can often use a 32-gallon trash cart ($3.63/tip) instead of a 96-gallon cart ($8.47/tip), saving significantly over the course of a year.
🚫 5 Common Mistakes Grand Rapids Residents Make
- Putting shredded paper in the blue recycling cart — shredded paper goes in your trash cart in a tied bag
- Leaving the trash cart at the curb when not in use — it may be tipped and charged even if you don’t have trash in it
- Using plastic bags for yard waste — only City paper bags, the City yard waste cart (with tag), or bundled materials with a bulk tag are accepted
- Placing a bulk item at the curb without a $40 sticker or online payment — it will not be collected and may result in a code violation
- Putting plastic bags or Styrofoam in the recycling cart — both cause contamination; take plastic bags to Meijer/Lowe’s/Target and Styrofoam to designated drop-off sites
🏭 Assisted Service for Disabled Residents
Residents who are physically unable to place carts at the curb may qualify for Assisted Service. Simply place your cart by your house or garage and city staff will empty it each collection week. Complete the Assisted Service application form and return it to Public Works, or call 616-456-3000 for more information.
Contact Grand Rapids Public Works & Waste Services
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Public Works — General Info | 📞 311 or 616-456-3000 • Mon–Fri 8am–4pm • publicworks@grcity.us |
| Public Works — Payments | 📞 616-456-3232 • Mon–Fri 8am–4pm |
| Public Service Center | 1500 Scribner NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 |
| Route Map (Find Your Day) | grandrapidsmi.gov/route-map — GIS map showing route numbers for trash, recycling, and yard waste pickup zones |
| Look Up Collection Dates | grandrapidsmi.gov/pickup-dates — enter your route number to get your calendar |
| Request Services | grandrapidsmi.gov/request-services — start or change trash, recycling, or yard waste service |
| Waste Service Payments & Account | payments.grandrapidsmi.gov • Check balance, pay for service, purchase bulk sticker online |
| Report Missed Trash | grandrapidsmi.gov/report-missed-trash |
| Report Missed Recycling | grandrapidsmi.gov/report-missed-recycling |
| Bulk Item Online Purchase | Online Bulk Item Payment Form — place item at curb next business day by 7am |
| Holiday Delays | grandrapidsmi.gov/holiday-delays |
| Yard Waste Drop-Off Site | 2001 Butterworth SW, Grand Rapids • Free for residents (bring ID) • Apr–mid-Dec: Mon–Sat 7:30am–4pm |
| Kent County SafeChem (HHW) | kentcountymi.gov/SafeChem — household hazardous waste disposal |
| Subsidized Trash Service | Home Repair Services: (616) 241-2601 • homerepairservices.org — for eligible homeowners |
Frequently Asked Questions — Grand Rapids Trash Pickup
Still Can’t Find Your Collection Day?
The official Route Map and pickup dates tool are the most accurate ways to find your schedule. Enter your address or look up your route number to get your exact weekday, recycling week, and annual calendar.
🔍 Official Grand Rapids Lookup & Contact Options
All of the following are free and will confirm your exact schedule based on your address:
🔍 Open Route Map 📞 Call 616-456-3000| Route Map (GIS) | grandrapidsmi.gov/route-map — find your route number by address to determine your collection day and recycling week |
| Pickup Dates Lookup | grandrapidsmi.gov/pickup-dates — enter your route number to view your upcoming collection calendar |
| Public Works Phone & Email | 311 or 616-456-3000 • Mon–Fri 8am–4pm • publicworks@grcity.us |
| Waste Services Main Page | grandrapidsmi.gov/waste-services — all service information, payments, request forms, and guidelines |
| Holiday Schedule | grandrapidsmi.gov/holiday-delays — official list of 2026 collection delay dates |
| 2026 Recycling Schedule PDF | 2026 Recycling Schedule PDF — download the full biweekly recycling calendar for 2026 |
You will leave this website when using any of the links above. The City of Grand Rapids grandrapidsmi.gov is the authoritative source for all collection schedule information.
Trash & Recycling Schedules for Other US Cities
Looking for waste collection information in another city? Here are cities we’ve already covered with full schedules, recycling rules, and bulk pickup guides: