Memorial Day Holiday – Trash Service Delayed One Day

May 7, 2018 | News, Service Updates

The upcoming Memorial Day holiday does impact solid waste collection services provided to the 34 Mid Michigan Waste Authority (MMWA) member communities. There will be no trash, recycling, or yard waste collection provided on Monday, May 28.

With the holiday falling on a Monday, collection services will be delayed one day for every community the week of Memorial Day. Residents should prepare and set out materials one day later than they normally do during the holiday week. For example, if your normal collection day is Monday, you should put your materials to the curb on Tuesday.

MMWA communities should set their materials out on the following days during the Memorial Day holiday week:

Inclement weather update for Monday, April 16

Apr 16, 2018 | News, Service Updates

MMWA launches curbside recycling education pilot in eight communities

Apr 13, 2018 | News, Service Updates

Mid Michigan Waste Authority is launching a new curbside education pilot in eight of its member communities that aims to improve recycling habits while recognizing residents who are already demonstrating good recycling behavior.

The 15-week pilot runs from April 16 to July 27, and will cover parts of Bridgeport Township, Carrollton Township, James Township, Saginaw Township, Spaulding Township, Village of St. Charles, Thomas Township, and Tittabawassee Township.

The project is funded in part by a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Recycling Education Grant. Last May, MMWA was one of 13 entities statewide to receive an education grant, which supports Governor Snyder’s 2014 Residential Recycling Plan of Action by increasing access to recycling, improving recycling processing capacity, and promoting recycling education in Michigan.

Through the pilot, MMWA is changing the tone of its curbside education efforts by using two new stickers to help educate residents and promote the MMWA recycling program.

The “Gold Medal” sticker will provide positive reinforcement to those residents who “get caught being good recyclers.” Recycling collection workers will leave the sticker on bins and cans that are prepared properly and contain only accepted recyclables.

The “Oops!” sticker will be left on recycling bins or cans that contain the three most common recycling container contaminants: plastic bags, foam products, or greasy pizza boxes. Because these items are not recyclable in the MMWA curbside program, the sticker will remind residents that they should be placed in the trash.

“These stickers provide a rare and valuable opportunity to provide direct feedback to our residents,” said MMWA Administrative Director Katharine Tessin. “We want to educate residents who are mistakenly putting the wrong items in their recycling containers, but we also want to let good recyclers know that we recognize and appreciate their efforts.”

Each sticker will also feature information encouraging residents to use a recycling can instead of a bin. Residents may use any 45-gallon or smaller can with handles, as long as they are labeled with “Recyclables Only” stickers available through MMWA or local municipal offices.

Larger cans help keep recyclables contained and dry and reduce blowing litter. Because a 45-gallon can is more than twice the size of the currently used 18-gallon, the greater capacity also allows residents to recycle more items, without the space constraints of the smaller bins.

Residents who receive the stickers are asked to participate in a brief online survey to help measure the success of the pilot project. Each sticker will feature a link to the survey. Respondents may remain anonymous or they can provide their contact information to be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to a locally-owned business.

The initiative also includes billboards in participating communities promoting the, “Have you outgrown your recycling bin?” message.

Increasing curbside recycling participation is a key objective for MMWA, but it is also critical that residents are recycling the correct items, explained Tessin.

“We know our recyclers have the best of the intentions when they place materials to the curb, but sometimes ‘wishful recycling’ means the wrong things end up in recycling containers,” she said. “Recycling is good for the environment, but it is also a business, and we need to make sure we are providing our end-use manufacturers with clean, quality materials.”

Residents in areas that are not part of the pilot project will see no change to their curbside recycling program. Drivers will continue to use the orange stickers that inform residents of improperly prepared trash, recycling, or yard waste, or note that a bulk item has been scheduled for collection.

For more information about the curbside education pilot, contact MMWA at (989) 781-9555 or mwwa@recyclemotion.org.

Good Friday/Easter Holidays will not delay trash service

Mar 20, 2018 | News, Service Updates

The upcoming Good Friday and Easter holidays do not impact solid waste collection services provided to the 34 communities serviced by the Mid Michigan Waste Authority.  Residents should prepare and set out materials on their regularly scheduled collection day.

The list of holidays that do impact solid waste pickup are: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Any communities with service that falls on the holiday and those that are serviced on the weekdays after the holiday will have collection delayed by one day. Service is not impacted when the holiday falls on a weekend.

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Yard waste season starts first week in April

Mar 12, 2018 | News, Service Updates

The first week of April marks the start of Mid Michigan Waste Authority’s seasonal curbside yard waste collection for 2018. Fourteen of MMWA’s 34 municipal members offer residential yard waste services.

Residents in the Village of Birch Run, Bridgeport Twp, Buena Vista Twp, Carrollton Twp, City of Frankenmuth, James Twp, Kochville Twp, City of Saginaw, Saginaw Twp, Spaulding Twp, Village of St Charles, Thomas Twp, Tittabawassee Twp and the City of Zilwaukee receive weekly yard waste service and may begin setting out yard waste cans and bags on their first regular collection day in April.

All yard waste materials must be placed in paper yard waste bags or in 35 gallon or smaller garbage cans that have a “Yard Waste Only”” sticker affixed to the front of the can.  In the City of Frankenmuth, yard waste may be placed in paper yard waste bags or in 20 gallon or smaller garbage cans labeled with a yard waste sticker.

Twigs must not protrude more than 12“ above the container.  Individual cans and bags cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each.

Brush, which includes branches greater than 2” in diameter but less than 6”, is managed separately from yard waste. State law allows brush in the landfill, so it is treated as trash under the MMWA program.  One 3’ x 4’ bundle of brush secured with twine may be set out next to regular trash at any time of year.

Some MMWA member communities offer limited-time brush drop-off sites or curbside collection.  Residents should contact their community’s municipal office directly to find out if this service is available.

Yard waste stickers are available at municipal offices in participating communities or free through MMWA.  To order yard waste stickers or for more information on yard waste guidelines, contact MMWA at (989) 781-9555.

Weekly yard waste services begin April 4 in City of Frankenmuth

Mar 12, 2018 | News, Service Updates

Starting April 4, City of Frankenmuth residents will begin receiving weekly yard waste services as part of their curbside solid waste collection program provided through Mid Michigan Waste Authority.

Residents will no longer need to purchase special tags for their yard waste containers through the City or local hardware stores.

City Manager Bridget Smith said the new weekly curbside collection program will make it easier for residents to dispose of their yard waste materials.

“We know people are busy and cannot always plan in advance for yard cleanup projects, so now they will be able to put out their yard waste cans or bags out on their regular Wednesday collection day without the extra step of buying stickers,” she said.

All yard waste materials must be placed in paper yard waste bags or in 20 gallon or smaller garbage cans with handles that have a “Yard Waste” sticker affixed to the front of the can.  Twigs must not protrude more than 12“ above the container.  Individual cans and bags cannot weigh more than 50 pounds each. Cans can be purchased locally. Yard waste stickers are available at City Hall or by contacting MMWA.

Brush, which includes branches greater than 2” in diameter but less than 6”, is managed separately from yard waste. State law allows brush in the landfill, so it is treated as trash under the MMWA program.  One 3’ x 4’ bundle of brush secured with twine may be set out next to regular trash at any time of year.

The City will continue to pick up large amounts of brush the first of each month from April through November. Leaf pick up will continue in the fall. For more information, contact the Frankenmuth City office at (989) 652-9901.

Yard waste stickers are available at the Frankenmuth City office, 240 W Genesee St., or free through MMWA.  To order yard waste stickers or for more information on yard waste guidelines, contact MMWA at (989) 781-9555.

Inclement weather update for Thursday, March 8, 2018

Mar 8, 2018 | News, Service Updates

Some trash and recycling drivers are encountering slippery conditions and roads that are drifted over and crowned. This means trucks are moving more slowly, and may not be able to access your materials if your road is not safe to travel. If your trash or recycling cannot be collected due to weather conditions, please remove materials from the curb and put them out on your next regular service day. Thank you for your patience and understanding, as driver and public safety is always our priority.

Yard waste season starts April 2

Mar 7, 2018 | News, Service Updates

Flooded roads update for Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Feb 21, 2018 | News, Service Updates

Numerous roads across Mid-Michigan are closed today – Wednesday, February 21 – due to water over the roadway. If your trash or recycling driver cannot access your road due to flooding, please pull your materials in and place them back out on your next regular collection day. Saginaw County Emergency Management cautions drivers not go around road closed barricades. The Saginaw County Road Commission notes that there may be roads that do not have “road closed” signs that are not safe to travel. Stay safe!