Yard Waste Collection

yardwastespring

The City of East Lansing provides yard waste collection for single family households, duplexes and households with one to four units. Yard waste includes leaves, plant materials, grass clippings and brush/limbs. Yard waste may be placed at the curb no earlier than 8 p.m. the day before collection and no later than 7:30 a.m. the day of collection.

Containing Yard Waste

There are two convenient options to contain yard waste, including:

  • Rigid, plastic container (no more than 32 gallons) or paper bag with City yard waste sticker attached. Must not weigh more than 40 pounds. 
  • Bundled (with string or twine) with a City yard waste sticker attached. Bundles may not be more than 4 feet long and 1 foot in diameter. Individual limbs must be 4 inches in diameter or less. Must not weigh more than 40 pounds.

    Yard waste stickers     can be purchased at various locations throughout East Lansing. NEW! yard waste stickers can now also be purchased online*.

    *A minimum of five yard waste stickers must be purchased online and it takes five to seven days to receive stickers by mail. Residents are advised to wait to schedule their yard waste collection until their stickers have been received. 

Disposing of Yard Waste

There are three options for disposing of yard waste throughout the year.

  • REGULAR CUBSIDE YARD WASTE COLLECTION (Offered on Mondays beginning April 3, excluding holidays and no-fee days)
    During the growing seasons, curbside yard waste collection takes place on Mondays (excluding holidays and no-fee days) and is available by making an Online Collection Request. Online requests must be made 7 a.m. on the Monday of collection (see containment guidelines above). Residents may also call the DPW office to request collection at (517) 337-9459 by 4 p.m. on the Friday prior to the Monday collection. 

    PLEASE NOTE: There will be no regular yard waste collection on the City's west side when no-fee yard waste collection is taking place on the City's east side, and vice versa.
     
  • NO-FEE CURBSIDE YARD WASTE COLLECTION (offered on alternating Mondays on the east and west sides of the City each spring and fall)
     
    Spring 2023 Dates
    West Side (homes west of Abbot Road): April 3 and June 5
    East Side (homes east of Abbot Road): April 10 and June 12

    Dispose of yard waste for free on two Mondays each spring and fall. Advanced requests and City bags/stickers are not required on no-fee days. All other containment guidelines do apply (see above). Yard waste must be placed in a paper yard waste bag, placed in a rigid plastic container (no more than 32 gallons) or bundled and placed at the curb by 7:30 a.m. The east side includes the east City limits at Park Lake Road to Abbot Road. The west side includes the west City limits at Coolidge and West roads to Abbot Road. 

    PLEASE NOTE: There will be no regular yard waste collection on the City's west side when no-fee yard waste collection is taking place on the City's east side, and vice versa. 

2023 SPRING/SUMMER YARD WASTE COLLECTION - KEY DATES


WEST SIDE (homes west of Abbot Road)

  • April 3: No-Fee Yard Waste Collection
  • April 10: No collection (No-Fee Yard Waste Collection on City's east side)
  • April 17: Extra Recycling for Earth Day
  • April 22: Recycle Rama (Earth Day)
  • May 29: No collection (Memorial Day; DPW closed)
  • June 5: No-Fee Yard Waste Collection
  • June 12: No collection (No-Fee Yard Waste Collection on City's east side)
  • June 19: No collection (Juneteenth; DPW closed)
  • July 3: No collection (Independence Day; DPW closed)
  • Sept. 4: No collection (Labor Day; DPW closed)

EAST SIDE (homes east of Abbot Road)

  • April 3: No collection (No-Fee Yard Waste Collection on City's west side)
  • April 10: No-Fee Yard Waste Collection 
  • April 22: Recycle Rama (Earth Day)
  • April 24: Extra Recycling for Earth Day
  • May 29: No collection (Memorial Day; DPW closed)
  • June 5: No collection (No-Fee Yard Waste Collection on City's west side) 
  • June 12: No-Fee Yard Waste Collection
  • June 19: No collection (Juneteenth; DPW closed)
  • July 3: No collection (Independence Day; DPW closed)
  • Sept. 4: No collection (Labor Day; DPW closed)
  • FALL BULK LEAF COLLECTION (offered on alternating Mondays on the east and west sides of the City each fall)

    Rake loose yard waste (except brush/limbs) to the curb for free collection on the Mondays of collection weeks. Yard waste that can be raked to the curb for this collection program includes leaves, plant materials and grass clippings. To ensure collection, please have all items at the curb by 7:30 a.m. on the Mondays of collection weeks.