City of Saginaw, Michigan

Compost Services

The city operates its own compost site located on Veterans Memorial Highway next to the Sewage Treatment Plant. The compost facility is open to the public April 1 through November 30. The compost site provides yard waste dumping as well as compost and wood chips to Saginaw and surrounding areas. Compost is available to city residents free of charge if self-loaded. Compost and wood chips can be delivered for a fee.

Hours: Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 
Every Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon in April, May, October and November 
2nd and 4th Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon June through September
Rates and Fees



Convenience Station

The Convenience Station is open to City residents on the 2nd Saturday of every month from 8:00AM to 12:00PM. Yard waste and brush can be dropped off at this time during the winter months. Items that can be dropped off include recyclables, building materials, furniture, trash and other miscellaneous items. No paint or chemicals are accepted. Open to City residents only. Residents must show a valid Michigan driver's license or identification as proof of residency. Convenience station is located behind the Public Works building at 1435 S. Washington Avenue.



Rubbish Collection

Rubbish and recycling guide (PDF)

The City of Saginaw encourages residents to participate in its bi-weekly residential curbside recycling program. Residents should focus on placing clean, empty, and dry cardboard, plastics #1 & #2, steel and aluminum cans, and mixed paper in their recycling containers. Residents can also place clear, green or brown glass and plastics #4 through #7 in their recycling. A key element of a recycling program is having an end user purchase the recycled material. Focusing on these items will help reduce contamination, overall costs, and improve the quality of our recyclables. Residents are reminded not to place plastic bags, greasy pizza boxes or foam containers in their recycling bins. All cardboard should be flattened and no larger than 3’ X 3’. Place your cardboard in or under your recycling bin. Caps and lids should be left on containers. Keep in mind, materials contained in a plastic bag will be treated as trash at the recyclables processing center.

As always: When in doubt, throw it out!

Residents can make their own recycling container by converting a 20 – 45 gallon rigid plastic container with handles into a recycling bin by adding “RECYCLABLES ONLY” stickers to the container. Stickers are available from the City of Saginaw or from MMWA. Residents can also continue to use their 18 gallon City of Saginaw recycling bin. Each container and its contents should weigh less than 50 pounds.

Additional information regarding residential recycling collection services is available on MMWA's website at www.recyclemotion.org.


Yard Waste

Yard waste is collected from April 1 through the first full week of December. State law sets requirements on how yard waste must be disposed of and handled. Yard waste is defined as grass clippings, yard vegetation, sod without dirt, twigs less than 2” in diameter and leaves. Residents should place their yard waste in paper compost bags or cans between 20 – 35 gallon in size labeled with “YARD WASTE” stickers. Paper yard waste bags may be purchased directly from local retailers, including grocery, hardware and home improvement stores. "YARD WASTE" stickers can be picked up in the Clerk's Office at City Hall (1315 S. Washington Avenue) or at the Right-of-Way Division in the Public Works Service Center (1435 S. Washington Avenue) and are available through MMWA. Each container and its contents should weigh less than 50 pounds. Please do not mix other material and debris with leaves. Yard waste in plastic bags will not be collected.

Do not rake yard waste into the street.

Additional information regarding yard waste collection services is available on MMWA's website at www.recyclemotion.org.

Items NOT collected:

  • Large brush, shrubs and bushes
  • Stumps, tree trunks and rootballs
  • Branches larger than 2 inches in diameter
  • Yard waste in plastic bags
  • Yard waste over 50 pounds
  • Any yard waste not in compliance with these rules will not be picked up and a "Notice of Violation" will be posted

For questions regarding yard waste collection, please call Mid-Michigan Waste Authority at 781-9555.

Mid-Michigan Waste Authority



Brush Collection

The City of Saginaw collects brush once monthly from April 1st through the first week of December.  The west side of the City is picked up from the 1st thru the 15th of every month. Brush should be placed at the curb before the first of the month to ensure pickup. The east side of the City is picked up from the 16th thru the end of the month. Brush should be placed out before the15th of the month to ensure pickup. The following bundling guidelines apply for City pickup:

  • Only one (1) brush pile that is not bundled is accepted
  • The pile is not to exceed 4ft wide by 4ft high by 10ft long
  • Limb diameter cannot exceed 6 inches
  • Branches less than 2 inches in diameter are considered yard waste and should be disposed of following yard waste disposal guidelines
  • Limbs must be placed with the largest diameter end on the street side
  • Any brush pile that does not conform to these rules will be in violation and subject to cost of removal

Mid-Michigan Waste Authority also provides brush collection on a weekly basis from April 1st through the first week of December on the normal trash pickup day. Brush can be set out with the trash, following these guidelines.

  • One (1) bundle of brush allowed with trash per week
  • Brush bundle can be no bigger than 3 feet by 4 feet
  • Branches up to 4 feet long and from 2 inches to 6 inches around are accepted
  • Branches less than 2 inches around are considered yard waste and should be disposed of following yard waste disposal guidelines
  • Small shrubs and bushes that are up to 4 feet in length are accepted
  • All brush must be bundled together with twine; no wire or tape allowed
  • Small amounts of brush can be put in your trash can as long as the branches do not extend more than 12 inches above the can and the weight is less than 50 pounds


Special Waste Drop Off

2023 Special Waste Drop off Schedule