News Flash

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The City of East Lansing will offer no-fee holiday refuse collection, a special recycling collection for extra corrugated cardboard and Christmas tree recycling to residents this holiday season.

Community members with questions can contact the East Lansing Department of Public Works at (517) 337-9459.

No-Fee Holiday Refuse Collection
In order to assist residents with disposal of extra refuse generated over the holidays, the City will offer no-fee holiday refuse collection Dec. 22-Jan. 4. During this time, residents can dispose of extra refuse without the use of a yellow City trash bag. Refuse will be collected on residents’ normal collection day only, except where changes are necessary due to the holidays: www.cityofeastlansing.com/holidaycollections.

Yard waste and bulk items are not included and all bags must weigh no more than 40 pounds.

Special Recycling Collection for Extra Cardboard
During the same time frame as the no-fee holiday refuse collection, Dec. 22-Jan. 4, residents with extra corrugated cardboard that won’t fit inside their recycling cart can place it next to their recycling cart for collection on their regular curbside recycling collection day. This special recycling collection is for cardboard only and only during the Dec. 22-Jan. 4 time frame. Please break down boxes.

With corrugated cardboard, boxboard, wrapping paper and rigid bulky plastic now added to East Lansing’s curbside recycling collection and Simple Recycling available for textiles/clothing and household goods, the City expects the demand for the no-fee holiday refuse collection to diminish. Residents are encouraged to help keep disposal costs down by using their new recycling carts and/or the City’s recycling drop-off sites, located at 1800 E. State Road and Patriarche Park (corner of Alton Road and Saginaw Street), for cardboard, boxboard and other recyclable items associated with the holidays. Learn more at www.cityofeastlansing.com/recycle.

Christmas Tree Recycling
The City will once again collect live-cut Christmas trees this winter. The trees will be chipped and used as mulch in East Lansing parks or donated to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for use as rabbit habitats. Curbside collection of trees will take place Monday, Dec. 28 and Monday, Jan. 4. Advance phone requests and stickers are not required. Drop-off sites will be available through Jan. 8 at the following locations:

- Patriarche Park – parking lot on Alton Road- Emerson Park – Arbor Drive entrance
- Henry Fine Park – parking lot at Winchester Drive- Valley Court Park – south of the Valley Court Community Center
- Albert A. White Memorial Park – parking lot at Pebblebrook Lane

All bags, holiday decorations and tree stands should be removed and trees taller than 6 feet should be cut in half.