Recycling 

Curbside Recycling

The City of Ypsilanti offers a cart-based curbside recycling program to help reduce your waste.  Have more recycling than the cart can handle? Sign up for a Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station pass here!  Have clothing or other textiles for recycling? Check out curbside Simple Recycling!  Wondering how to recycle (or dispose of) an item not listed here? Use the Waste Wizard! 

Curbside recycling collected in the City goes to the Recycle Ann Arbor Materials Recovery Facility, one of only three zero-waste MRFs in the state. 

2026 A/B Week Dated Calendar

Residential Curbside Recycling

One- and two-family residential properties that receive residential garbage pickup via the City are automatically eligible for curbside recycling.

Multifamily Residential and Commercial Curbside Recycling

Multifamily properties with up to 4 units and commercial businesses may be eligible to participate; please fill out this form for multifamily properties and this form for commercial businesses.  We encourage individuals to use the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop Off Station; please note that commercial businesses are ineligible for a free drop-off pass provided by the City.

FAQs

When is my curbside recycling collected?

Your recycling is collected on the same day as your garbage, but is every other week.  Whether you are an "A" week or a "B" week depends entirely on your address. Check your collection schedule on this page or by calling 734-483-1421.  Yard waste and recycling pickup are on the same day. Some properties within the downtown development authority (DDA) districts may be eligible for weekly pickup; call for eligibility.

How do I set my cart out properly?

Place your cart on the curb after 6 p.m. the night before your collection day but no later than 6 a.m. on your collection day.  Make sure the cart is accessible to our crews. Place it at least 3 feet from other carts and objects, but do not place it on top of snowbanks or in the street.

Do I have to put out my recycling in the cart?

Yes. All recycling must be inside the cart.   Recycling should be placed loose in the cart, not in plastic bags; we will not pick up any recycling that contains plastic bags.

We only accept recycling inside a cart, not set beside it, for three reasons. First, because it's safer for our employees and reduces the risk of injury associated with bending and lifting.  Next, because it reduces the likelihood that recycling can be blown around the neighborhood, becoming litter. Finally and most importantly, because it reduces contamination. Wet paper and cardboard products cannot be recycled and are considered contaminants. If we take a highly contaminated load to the recycling facility, it will be rejected- and the literal tons of recyclable materials that have been collected that day will be put into the trash and the City may be assessed an additional fee.   In order to ensure that we can continue curbside recycling, we must reject non-recyclable materials.

What can I recycle curbside?

You can find a detailed list here.    Here is an overview of what we collect in the recycling carts:

• Plastic bottles and containers (numbered 1, 2, and 5)
• Aluminum and steel cans
• Cartons
• Glass bottles and jars
• Cardboard (no food or grease, flattened)
• Newspaper, junk mail, mixed paper—all colors and types

All containers should be empty and dry. Replace caps on empty containers.    Please note that if our pickup crews see material that we cannot accept curbside in your cart, we will not pick up the cart. Material that cannot be recycled is considered contamination.  If we take a highly contaminated load to the recycling facility, it will be rejected- and the literal tons of recyclable materials that have been collected that day will be put into the trash and the City may be assessed an additional fee.   In order to ensure that we can continue curbside recycling, we must reject non-recyclable materials.

• Can I recycle hoses, cords, wires, or clothing in my cart?
  • No. These items wrap around equipment at the recycling processing facility, creating a safety hazard for workers and causing facility shutdowns. Scrap metal, like chains and metal hangers, can be taken to the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-off Station. More information about the DOS is available at cityofypsilanti.com/dropoff. The City has also partnered with Simple Recycling for clothing/textile recycling; for more information visit this page.
• Can I recycle plastic bags, plastic wrap, soft foam, Styrofoam, or bubble wrap in my cart?
  • No. Plastic bags and wrap cause equipment jams at the recycling processing facility. Your household plastic film—like grocery bags, drink case wrapping, cling wrap, and bubble wrap—can be dropped off at almost any large retail or grocery store for recycling. Most people save up their clean and dry plastic film and take it to the grocery store every few months; you can also take plastic bags , film, and rigid Styrofoam to the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station.
• Can I recycle shredded paper in my cart?
  • No. The tiny shreds can’t make it through the recycling sorting process.   You can take shredded paper to the Recycle Ann Arbor Drop-Off Station.

What if I want a different size cart?

If you find you need a smaller cart,  please contact the Department of Public Services at 734-483-1421 or recycling@cityofypsilanti.com to discuss how to continue participating in the recycling program.  

Can I get a second cart?

In some cases, residents may be able to purchase a second cart.  Please contact the Department of Public Services at 734-483-1421 or recycling@cityofypsilanti.com for more information.

What if my cart is stolen or damaged?

Each cart is assigned to an address and can be identified by its RFID tag. If your cart is  stolen, a police report should be filed  immediately upon vandalism or theft.  Please contact the Department of Public Services at 734-483-1421 or recycling@cityofypsilanti.com for a replacement. We encourage you to write your house number on the cart with a grease pen, spray paint, paint pen, or similar marking for easy identification.