Yard Waste

Fourteen MMWA member communities receive yard waste services: 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.

Yard waste is defined by state law as grass clippings, twigs (less than two inches in diameter), leaves, and other yard vegetation. Yard waste season runs from the first week full week in April through the first full week in December. 

Before you start raking, take a moment to learn more about the MMWA yard waste program.

MMWA Curbside Yard Waste Guidelines

  • Residents should have their yard waste out by 7:00 am on their regular service day.
  • If your properly prepared materials were out within the proper timeframe but not picked up, please leave them out until they are serviced.
  • Report all missed collections on your service day or before 5:00 pm the next business day by calling MMWA. Each resident has a one business day window to report a missed pick-up.
  • Place yard waste in cans 20-35 gallons in size or in paper yard waste bags. Cans must be labeled with “Yard Waste Only” stickers, available through MMWA or from your municipal office. Residents in the City of Frankenmuth must use a 20 gallon or smaller can with handles, labeled with a “Yard Waste Only” sticker. 
  • Yard waste cans and bags must weigh less than 50 pounds each. Close bags and use lids if available. Twigs and grasses cannot extend more than 12 inches above the lip of the container.
  • Yard waste bags or containers that contain contamination such as trash, bulk waste, tires, or plastic bags will not be collected.  If you see an orange (WM communities) or yellow (Priority Waste communities) sticker, it probably means your materials are improperly prepared.
  • Holidays that fall on weekdays cause collection to be delayed one day for that day and the following service days for the rest of that week. MMWA observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
  • Each member community determines the level of service their residents receive. Visit your community’s page for more information on trash container guidelines.

MMWA Acceptable Curbside Yard Waste

Yard waste is defined by State law as grass clippings, sod without dirt, twigs (less than two inches in diameter), leaves, flowers, roots, pumpkins, hay bales, corn stalks, and mulch. 

MMWA Unacceptable Curbside Yard Waste

Yard waste does not include soil, any trash, food, plastic, synthetic fibers, lumber, human or animal waste, and hazardous waste.

MMWA Curbside Christmas Tree Guidelines

After Christmas and during the month of January, MMWA will offer live, unadorned Christmas tree recycling as part of its yard waste program. Please remove all decorations, ornaments, lights, tree stand and place the tree out at the curb on your normal service day by 7:00 am for collection.

Tree recycling is only available to member communities who have yard waste.

Artificial and adorned Christmas trees will be collected as bulk waste in all MMWA member communities.

MMWA Additional Yard Waste Information

  • Some communities have seasonal brush drop-off sites or curbside brush collection programs. Please contact your municipality to see if these services are available. 
  • The duration of yard waste collection was determined when MMWA’s contracts with both our hauler and the compost site was negotiated. The season runs from the first full week in April through the first full week in December. 
  • While not typical, in some cases municipalities with yard waste collection services may consider extending these services into December. This is an individual decision and would be made in November. Residents should monitor MMWA’s website, Facebook, and Instagram pages, as well as their municipality’s website and social media account for the most up-to-date information.