Residential Curbside Trash Collection

Trash collection is provided for all single unit dwellings in the City. Weekly curbside trash pick up services (beginning May 1, 2022) are provided by Granger Waste Services.

Trash must be bagged and placed in a Granger issued Curby trash cart (brown lid). Approximately four to five 30-gallon trash bags fit in a single cart. DO NOT load carts over 200 pounds. Please double bag cat litter or any other animal waste.

Only household waste may be disposed of in the trash carts. No yard waste, construction debris, or hazardous waste should be placed in the carts. For details about prohibited items and suggestions on how to dispose of them, please view Granger's Waste Acceptance Guidelines page.

Multi-Unit residential and Commercial/Industrial trash collection must be contracted by the property owner.

Granger issued Curby Recycler recycling carts (yellow lid) are collected curbside every two weeks. Place accepted recyclable materials loose in the cart. Do not bag them. All recyclables must be clean and dry. For details about acceptable and unacceptable materials, please refer to Granger's Recycling Schedule & Guidelines.

Please follow the cart placement guidelines for both your trash and recycling carts to ensure pick-up.

As of July 1, 2025, the monthly rates for solid waste services are $17.00 for solid waste collection, $0.52 for hazardous waste collection, and $16.03 for yard waste collection. Please refer to the Solid Waste Rates document for more information.

FAQs

Does the City provide recycling services?

Yes. Curbside recycling is provided by Granger Waste Services on a bi-weekly basis. All recyclables must be placed in a Granger issued Curby Recycler recycling cart (yellow lid) placed curbside according to the cart placement guidelines.

All materials can be placed loose (do not bag) in the Curby Recycler together. You do not need to sort them. Rinse containers clean and let them dry before placing into the recycler. Break down and flatten boxboard and cardboard.

Acceptable materials for recycling:

  • Boxboard
  • Cardboard
  • Brown paper bags
  • Mixed paper
  • Metal cans and foil
  • Plastic bottles, tubs, jugs and containers
  • Clear and colored glass bottles and containers

Unacceptable materials for recycling:

  • Aerosol cans
  • Appliances
  • Disposable coffee cups
  • Hangers
  • Household scrap metal
  • Paint cans
  • Plastic retail or grocery bags
  • Refrigerator or freezer boxes, including beverage cases
  • Rubber
  • String and/or twine
  • Stickers and/or sticky notes
  • Foam containers and/or packaging
  • Toys
  • Wax- or foil-coated boxes and cartons

For more information, please visit the Granger Recycling Schedule & Guidelines page.

When is my trash and recyling picked up?

Trash is picked up weekly. Recycling is picked up every two weeks.

The city is divided into quadrants. Please refer to the following map to find your normal weekly pickup day.

There are certain holidays that if they fall during the week will typically delay your pickup by one day. These holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. To confirm whether or not a holiday affects your pickup day, visit https://www.grangerwasteservices.com/schedule-guidelines/.

Is there a limit to the amount of trash I can put out each week?

Trash will only be collected from your Granger trash cart. Your trash cart holds 4-5 bags of trash. They will not collect any trash bags or other items outside the cart or from personal containers. Please keep the weight of your carts to 200 lbs or less and the weight of your bags to 30 lbs or less. If you have additional trash that exceeds what fits into your trash cart, Granger has a disposal center in Alma where you can drop off additional waste for a fee. Visit  www.grangerwasteservices.com/self-haul/self-haul-disposal/disposal-center-alma/ to find additional information including current rates, contact information, and hours of service.

Collection of one large item (furniture, appliances, etc.) each week is included with your service. However, you must contact Granger in advance to schedule collection by completing the form at www.grangerwasteservices.com/customer-support/bulk-pickup-request or calling 1-888-947-2643. Bulk item pickups will be scheduled for Thursday each week. Please call or complete the online pickup form 48-hours in advance. To have additional bulk items collected, contact Granger to prepay and schedule service.

What happens if I have more bags than what my Curby cart holds?

Granger Waste Services has a self-haul disposal center in Alma. Additional household waste and construction waste can be dropped off at the disposal center for a fee. Please visit www.grangerwasteservices.com/self-haul/self-haul-disposal/disposal-center-alma/ to view current rates, contact information, and hours of service.

What if I need more than 1 Curby cart for trash?

Contact Granger directly at 1-888-947-2643.  Granger contracts directly with the resident if they would like more than the 1 Curby cart that was delivered to your residence.

I have a bulk item for pick up, can I just put it out to the road?

You will have to schedule a bulk item for pickup via phone or online.  Call Granger at 1-888-947-2643 or visit https://www.grangerwasteservices.com/customer-support/bulk-pickup-request/ to schedule your bulk item pickup (please call or complete the form 48-hours in advance).  Bulk item pickups will be scheduled for Thursday each week.

What do I do with my old trash bin(s)?

If you wish to dispose of old personal trash bins, contact City Hall at 989-681-2137 and they will arrange for Granger to pick up your old bin(s). Follow the direction given by City Hall staff when you call to request pick-up, and make sure bin(s) are empty and placed in a way that does not prevent the normal weekly collection of your Curby trash bin.

Are there items I cannot throw out in the trash?

Items that will NOT be collected curbside:

  • Medical waste, although Sharps materials such as syringes may be disposed of if special procedures are followed
  • Open, empty or used beverage containers (with a deposit)
  • Whole car or truck tires (scrap tires)
  • Yard waste like grass clippings or leaves, sod, dirt, wood, construction debris, etc.
  • Used oil (Oil filters must be drained for 24 hours before being placed in the trash.)
  • Asbestos
  • Car or truck batteries or other lead acid batteries
  • Oil-based paint (Latex paint is allowed, but only if dried.)
  • Refrigerants/Freon (must be properly removed from appliances prior to disposal)
  • Empty drums (unless clean and crushed)
  • Explosives, ammunition or firearms
  • Propane or other compressed gas tanks (unless empty and disabled)
  • Low-level radioactive waste, like clocks and smoke detectors
  • Regulated hazardous waste
  • Non-household liquid waste
  • Septage/sewage
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) like those found in flourescent light ballasts

For more details and the most current information, as well as suggestions now how to dispose of these materials in other ways, please visit the Granger Waste Acceptance Guidelines page.

The City of St. Louis annually schedules a Hazardous Household Waste Collection Program. See more information further down the page or click here for a pdf to download and print.

Are there other options for recyling items that Granger Waste Services will not pick up?

Several local charities accept used clothing donations.

WalMart and Meijer have recycling drop boxes for plastic bags in their lobby.

Padnos on Williams Street in Alma accepts metal, electronics, and other things for recycling.

St. Louis and Alma Police Departments will dispose of medications in original containers.

Many retailers have in-store recycling areas including: Staples, Best Buy, AutoZone, Target, and others.

Can I leave my trash bin at the curb overnight?

Trash can be left curbside after 12:00 noon of the day preceding the day scheduled for collection. Empty containers (trash and recycle bins) should be removed from the street the same day that collection is made.

Please refer to the City's Solid Waste Ordinance for more details.

Windy Day Trash Tips

Tip 1#: Bag All Your Trash

This is the one step you can take that will make the most difference to keeping your neighborhood clean on a windy day. A bonus is that bagging your trash also means loose trash won’t stick to the bottom of your cart when it is emptied.

Tip #2: Don’t Overfill

Overfilling trash and recycling carts means cart lids don’t close all the way. And when your lid is ajar, it’s a lot easier for the wind to catch it, blow it open and blow things out of your cart.

Tip #3: Place Heavier Items on Top

Putting lighter items or bags in the bottom of your cart and placing heavier bags or items on top of those will add some security. Weighing items down will help ensure they don’t get blown or knocked out of the cart.

Tip #4: Put Your Cart Back

Bring your cart back to the safety of your garage or carport or up near your house to protect it from the wind as soon as you can. An empty cart will blow over or blow away with a strong gust of wind and putting it back quickly will help lessen the chance of that happening.

Tip #5: Give Your Driver a Break

We do our best to make sure we’re picking up trash that flies out of your cart and ensure your cart is put back upright and in a position that’s not blocking your driveway. But it’s important to remember that your drivers are human and wind can be a challenging force.

Yard Waste

The City provides curbside yard waste removal for residential properties. Bagged yard waste pick-up is generally on Monday each week. Brush is picked up once a month. Please see the Yard Waste Guidelines document or the FAQ below for more information.

The current brush pick-up schedule is on the DPW page.

FAQs

Does the City provide curbside pick-up for yard waste?

Yes, the City provides pick-up of standard yard waste (grass clippings, leaves, weeds, flower clippings, etc.) if it is properly bagged in biodegradable paper bags weighing less than 40 lbs each.

"Yard waste" does not include dirt, sod, animal waste, or trash. Do not mix any of these materials into your yard waste bags or the bags will left at the curb and not picked up.

"Brush" is considered separate from yard waste, should be piled separate from bagged yard waste, and is collected on a separate pick-up schedule. Brush includes tree limbs, woody plant material (like from pruning), old Christmas trees, and like matter. It does not include construction material or construction waste.

The City will only pick up yard waste and brush from residential properties within the City. Do not bring in any materials from outside the City limits.

When is residential yard waste picked up?

Public Works typically collects bagged yard waste every Monday, starting at 8:00a.m. During peak periods in spring and fall it may be delayed due to larger than normal quantities set out for removal.

Brush pickup occurs during the first full-week of the month beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Monday. If a holiday falls during the first week of the month (for example, Labor Day), brush pickup begins the following week.

How does the City handle autumn leaf pickup?

From October 1 to December 1, fall leaves can be raked loose to the curb for pickup.

Leaves raked before October 1 or after December 1 must be bagged in biodegradable bags weighing less than 40 lbs to be picked up following normal yard waste pickup procedures.

Do not rake leaf piles into the street or in any way obstruct traffic. 

Take care to make sure leaf piles do not include branches, twigs, other yard waste, or animal waste. Branches and twigs should be piled separately for brush pick-up. Yard waste must be bagged. Animal waste cannot be composted and must be disposed of in the trash.

Avoid piling leaves around utility poles since the leaf vacuum cannot maneuver around the pole. See the video on this page for best practices on leaf piles.

Will the City pick up my Christmas tree?

Christmas trees will be picked up during normal brush week, i.e. the first full week of the month that does not include a holiday. Make sure to remove any wire, string, decorations, or other foreign material attached to the tree.

Can I burn brush and leaves?

No. While recreational fire pits are allowed within the city limits, the burning of brush, yard waste, trash, or construction materials is not allowed in a recreational fire pit. Please refer to the Police Department page for more details about recreational fire pits.

I have had brush piled at the curb for weeks and it hasn't been picked up. Why not?

Brush is only picked up during the first full week of the month (unless a holiday falls during the first week, and then it occurs the next week).

Public Works completes one circuit of the City during the week. They do not cover the same street on multiple days. Therefore to ensure your pile is not missed, brush must be piled by the curb by 8:00a.m. on the Monday of pick-up week.

When piling brush make sure:

  • The large end is pointed with the traffic direction on its side of the street.
  • Brush must be of manageable length. For very long pieces, you may need to cut them in half or into multiple pieces.
  • Any roots from the brush must be cut off and stacked separately.
  • Brush cannot have wire, string, decorations or other foreign materials attached.
  • Brush does not include construction materials. Do not mix pieces of lumber into your brush pile.
My yard waste and brush is hurting my grass while waiting for pick-up. Can I take it out to the Wells Road lot myself?

Yes, yard waste and brush eligible for curbside pick-up from residential properties within the City of St. Louis may be dropped off at the City's Wells Road Material Storage and Disposal Yard located on Wells Road, approximately 1/4 mile north of the Olive Street instersection on the east side of the road.

Eligible yard waste and brush may be dropped off between 8:00 a.m. and noon on Monday mornings (excluding holidays) between April 1 and December 1. At times, due to staff availability and seasonal weather conditions, the dates and times for drop-off may need to be modified. Any modifications to the dates and times will be listed on the City's website, on the locked gate at the Yard, on social media, and in the monthly newsletter.

Residents must sign in with the DPW employee on site and follow their direction on where to deposit the brush and/or yard waste. The resident is responsible for offloading all materials where designated.

Materials NOT ELIGIBLE for curbside pick-up are also NOT ELIGIBLE to be dropped off:

NO materials from properties outside the City limits.

NO dirt, sod, animal waste, or trash.

NO construction material or construction waste.

Please review the Residential Solid Waste Policy for more details. If you have brush or yard waste that has been refused for pick-up, DO NOT bring it to the Yard for drop-off.

As part of the sign-in procedure, residents must sign a Disclosure Form stating their name, the address of the lot the material came from, and compliance with the Solid Waste Policy. See the Wells Road Material Storage and Disposal Yard Supplementary Policy on this webpage for details.

Dumping of yard waste and brush outside of the posted, open times will be considered trespassing. Dumping of materials other than as specified in the Solid Waste Policy will be considered illegal. Perpetrators will be subject to the loss of the use of the Yard and could be subject to prosecution.

If you have questions or concerns regarding solid waste pick up that are not addressed in the Solid Waste Guidelines, the Wells Road Yard Supplemental Policy, or this FAQ, please contact the DPW Superintendent at (989) 681-3644.

A message from the DPW Superintendent about yard waste bag pick-up policies and procedures.

A message from the DPW Superintendent about brush pick-up policies and procedures.

A message from the Department of Public Works about loose leaf pickup.

Hazardous Waste

The City of Alma along with the City of St Louis will be sponsoring its 33rd Annual Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program on June 2, 3, and 4, 2026.  Solid waste customers desiring to use this service should call (989) 463-8030 to schedule an appointment to drop off their material at the Alma Public Works garage located at 800 Washington Street. Customers are encouraged to utilize this service to dispose of all unwanted waste typically considered hazardous and not permitted to be placed with the weekly trash collection services. Examples of these include:

Pesticides and Herbicides
Solvents, Strippers and Turpentine
Paints-Oil based and Latex
Rodent Baits
Chemical Household Cleaners and Acids
Auto Fluids-Antifreeze and Lubricants
Pool/Spa Chemicals
Household and Automotive Batteries
Pressurized tanks (i.e. fire extinguishers, LP tanks, etc.)
Fluorescent light bulbs (tubes only)

ALSO

Passenger and Light Truck Tires*

*Will not accept OTRs which include loader tires, airplane tires, solid/gel filled tires, forestry tires, logging tires, mining tires, earth mover tires, golf tires with rim, rubber tracks of any kind, nor tires with excessive dirt and parts or shreds of tires.

All items to be disposed of must be in original containers. Unidentified substances cannot be accepted. Leaky items should be placed in a plastic or metal container with a secure top.  Containers are limited in size to 5-gal or 40lbs in weight. Substances should not be mixed together.

The following items CAN NOT be accepted:
Gasoline
Ammunition or Explosives
Radioactive Materials (i.e. smoke detectors)
 
No Dried Paint or Empty Paint Cans
Unidentifiable Materials
E-Waste (electronics, computers, cell phones)
 
Prescription Medication
Alma Police Department is a collection site
Outdated or Unused Medications in original containers (Pills only)

Sharps (Needles)
Mid-Michigan District Health is a Sharps collection site

 

This program is only available to City of Alma/City of St Louis Solid Waste customers.  There is no direct charge for this service as costs incurred for the Household Hazardous Waste program are assessed in customer billing.  Identification will be required at the drop off site.  For additional information, please call the Alma Public Works Department at (989) 463-8030, or Alma City Hall at (989) 463-8336.

This program is available to City of Alma/City of St Louis Solid Waste customers only.
Call (989) 463-8030 to reserve a drop off appointment.

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