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Washtenaw County Recycling Guide

City of Ypsilanti

Department of Public Works Office
14 W. Forest Avenue
Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Phone:  (734)-483-1421
Fax:  (734) 483-1018
www.cityofypsilanti.com  

Solid Waste Services

  • The City of Ypsilanti has a contract with Waste Management as its sole waste hauler. 
    • If you have any questions about your solid waste service, please call the Dept. of Public Works at (734) 483-1421, the Waste Management Customer Service Line at 1-800-796-9696, or visit the City of Ypsilanti's website. 
    • To ensure pick up, please have your rubbish at the curb the night before your collection day or by 6:00 am on your collection day. 
    • There is a limit of 3 cans/bags per week per unit for single family homes.  Please view the Waste Reduction Flyer for tips on reducing your waste.
    • No property may exceed 9 containers without brim bags.  This applies to multi-unit housing.  Properties exceeding the curbside limit may purchase brim bags at $2.00 per bag for the additional trash. 
    • If you are moving or have a situation where brim bags would not be economical due to volume of trash, a special pick-up can be arranged between the property owner/resident and the waste contractor. Fees vary depending on quantity and articles. The minimum fee is $25.00.


  • Items Not Collected at the Curb

    • Gasoline and Automotive Oil

    • Tires

    • Car and Truck Parts/Engines

    • Deposit Bottles

    • Hazardous Wastes

    • Construction/Roofing Debris

    • Yard Waste Mixed with Trash

    • Large Pieces of Wood/Dry Wall

    • Concrete/Bricks

    • Fencing/Railroad Ties

    • Tree Stumps

    • Wet Paint Cans

      - For latex paint add cat litter to dry out the paint and place at curb with lid off.

  • Some of these items can be taken to the Washtenaw County Home Toxics Drop-off Site, listed at the bottom of this page under Washtenaw County Links.

  • Seasonal Double Trash Pickup

    • The City of Ypsilanti provides two double trash removal periods each calendar year, based around standard move-in/move-out times.  Please call 483-1421 to find the exact dates for each year. 

      • During these weeks each residential unit is permitted to set out two times the normal trash volume on their regular trash day. This means that a single family home may set out six containers and two large household items that do not contain freon.
      • The City's ordinance enforcement personnel aggressively enforce regulations and if necessary, cite and contract for removal of the curbside trash at the property owner’s expense. If the City has to remove the trash from the curbside, the property owner will be billed directly for the services. Legal evictions must follow eviction laws, but property owners must comply with City trash regulations immediately after the required 24-hour period.
      • Anyone with questions as it relates to City trash pick-up, may contact the Department of Public Works at 734-483-1421. For questions as it relates to citations or the eviction process, please contact our Ordinance Enforcement Division at 734-482-1025.


  • Bulky Item Pickup

    • All large items such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, dishwashers, furniture, etc., ARE COLLECTED CURBSIDE. You are allowed ONE large item per week per unit.

    • Refrigeration units such as air conditioners and refrigerators must have a freon removal certification sticker on it before it is collected. Look in the Yellow Pages under "REFRIGERATION" for a licensed contractor to remove the freon.

    • One large item per week, placed at the curb before 6:00 am on your regular collection day, will be removed. Remove doors from stoves and refrigerators for safety of children playing nearby.

    • Roll and tie carpet in 4 foot bundles weighing less than 50 pounds each.

    • No telephone call is needed for large item collection, simply place at the curb before 6:00 am on your collection day.

Recycling Services

  • Recycling is collected curbside once a week by the City of Ypsilanti, on the same day as trash pickup.


  • City of Ypsilanti Drop-off Location:

    Depot Town
    Farmer's Market
    651 Rice St
    (734) 483-1421

    Hours:  Thurs, Fri, and Sat. 9 am - 3 pm

    All items accepted in the curbside recycling program are also taken at the drop-off location.  The drop-off location will also take styrofoam.
  • Ypsilanti Township Drop-off Locations:
     
    1.  The Civic Center
    2.  Ford Blvd., at the fire station
    3.  Hewitt & Congress, at the fire station

    Hours:  Open 24 hours

    Acceptable Items:
    Plastic Bottles #1 & #2 Magazines
    Tin & Aluminum Cans Corrugated Cardboard
    Boxboard Newspapers
    Clear, Green, & Brown glass bottles & jars

Yard Waste

  • The City of Ypsilanti picks up yard waste curbside, on trash day, starting the first full week in April until the last full week before Thanksgiving. 
  • Yard Waste is considered grass clippings, leaves, weeds and brush under 2 inches in diameter only.  Yard waste must be placed in proper containers (see below) free of any rubbish, dirt, sod or recyclables.
    • Yard waste must be placed in paper compost bags (available at local stores) or hard plastic containers no larger than 32 gallons in size.  Do not use plastic liners. 
    • Plastic containers must be clearly marked "Yard Waste" with permanent marker, paint or stickers available at City Hall, the DPW office, or the City Recycling Center.
    • Containers must not weigh more than 50 pounds.
    • Please place all yard waste at curbside no later than 6:00 am on trash day.  Yard waste should be placed at least six feet from rubbish and recycling bin.
    • Branches and small tree limbs must be TIED in bundles not exceeding 4 feet in length and 50 pounds in weight.  Place next to yard waste.
    • Periodic curbside chipping is offered for branches too large to bag, barrel or bundle.  Branches may not exceed 12 inches in diameter at the largest point and must be cut in manageable lengths.  Chipping does not follow trash schedule and is only done periodically.  Place brush in margin (area between street and sidewalk) and when the chipper is in your area it will be chipped.
    • Please view the Grasscycling Flyer to learn the benefits of this practice.
  • Christmas tree chipping will begin the first full week of January and go through the last full week of the month.  Place your tree at the curb and please remove all decorations and tinsel so that the chipper is not damaged.  Do not place trees in plastic bags.

  • The City of Ypsilanti conducts bulk leaf collections from late October to late December, or until which time there is inclement weather. During the fall bulk leaf collection period only, leaves may be placed loose on the margin for pick-up (do not place in street). Do not mix leaves and brush together.  Please call 483-1421 to find the exact dates of the bulk leaf collection period.

  • Ypsilanti Township Compost Center 

    • City of Ypsilanti residents are welcome to use the Ypsilanti Township Compost Center located at 2600 E. Clark Rd. to make personal drop-offs of compost/yard waste materials.   

    • In order to drop off items for free, the City requires a pass be obtained before any compost / yard waste materials are transported to the Compost Center. Passes can be obtained through the City of Ypsilanti, Department of Public Works administrative office located at 14 W. Forest. The office is open between the hours of 8:00am and 5:00pm, Monday through Friday.  If a pass is not obtained, a City of Ypsilanti resident will be asked to pay to drop items off. 

    • The Ypsilanti Township Compost Center's hours of operation are: 
      April - Nov:  Mon- Fri 9-5 pm and Sat. 9-4 pm
      Dec- March:  Sat. only 9-4 pm

    • Acceptable materials (fees may apply - call 482-6681 for an updated pricing guide)

      • Yard Waste

      • Metal Appliances

      • Appliances with Freon

      • Scrap Metal

      • Construction Debris

      • Used Motor Oil

      • Oil Filters

      • Antifreeze

  • Burning of yard waste is not allowed in the City of Ypsilanti.  Please call the fire department at 734-482-9778 to find out how to receive a bonfire permit.

Washtenaw County Links