Yard Waste and Compost

The Charter Township of Plymouth has extended seasonal curbside collection of yard waste.
The season runs from the first full week in April through the second full week in January.


The 2024 curbside yard waste collection will begin the week of Monday, April 1, 2024.  Collection ends the week of January 13, 2025

Yard waste stickers are available at Township Hall. Remember, it is against local and County ordinance to burn garden waste and leaves!


Guidelines

  • Yard waste including leaves, grass clippings, vegetative pruning, garden waste, branches and twigs can be set out to the curb by 7 am on your regular collection day and no earlier than 6 pm the night before your collection.  Our curbside yard waste collection does not include downed trees.  No chipper is available.  Please contact a tree service if you have a tree down on your property.

  • Twigs and branches must be tied with string or twine in bundles no longer than 3 feet in length-- no wire or plastic ties.  No logs. No root balls.  Root balls should be placed with regular trash.

  • Leaves and grass clippings can be put into paper Yard Waste bags available from various retailers, or in a 35 gallon (maximum size) container identified with a yard waste sticker or marked clearly with 2 large "X"s or "C"s on the container. Yard waste stickers are available at Township offices. Take care to ensure that the label is facing the roadway.

  • Filled containers or bundles should not exceed 50 pounds.

  • Yard waste is collected on the same day as your trash and recycling.

NOT ACCEPTED:
Root balls
Fruit & Vegetables
Dirt
Sod
Mulch/Landscape Stones
Logs over 4" in diameter

YD WSTE Guidelines_Pic

Christmas trees will be collected January 2, 2024 - January 12, 2024 on your normal collection day.  Here are a few tips on Christmas tree disposal:

      *   Trees will be picked up January 2 through January 12, 2024 on your NORMAL trash collection day.
      *   Be sure to remove all tinsel, garland and non-organic materials from the tree.
      *   Do NOT place the tree in a plastic disposal bag.
      *   Place the tree with the trunk facing the street for easy collection.

Backyard Composting
Here in Michigan there is always the possibility of having a warmer winter, which may allow for earlier growth of grasses, shrubs and other perennials. Since you cannot put yard waste out for curbside collection during the winter months you could consider backyard composting. Compost, which has been coined as "black gold" by many gardeners over the past century, can do wonders for your lawn and gardens.

Yard waste is not the only ingredient in backyard compost. Kitchen scraps can be added as well such has eggshells, fruits and vegetables, coffee grounds, water from steaming your vegetables etc. Absolutely NO meat products should be put in your compost pile. This will ensure your compost is free of foul odors.

There are many different ways of composting from using specially made containers that you purchase, to containers you create yourself, to just a pile or heap in a corner of your yard. Try these links for more information:

Michigan State University Extension

Fact Sheet - Backyard Composting